Crypto Giant Binance Seeks MiCA Authorization in Greece Amid EU Regulatory Countdown
The world's largest crypto exchange has filed for MiCA licensing in Greece following warnings from French authorities about non-compliance as June deadline approaches.
The cryptocurrency exchange Binance has formally submitted its application seeking regulatory approval under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework of the European Union in Greece, as financial authorities across the bloc issue warnings about approaching compliance cutoff dates.
In a statement provided to Cointelegraph on Friday, a representative from Binance verified that the platform has formally applied for MiCA licensing through Greece's financial oversight body, the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC), and is currently engaged in cooperative discussions with the regulator.
We welcome the opportunity to work closely with the HCMC as this new regulation takes shape in the EU and look forward to contributing to the long-term growth of the EU's Europe's digital financial ecosystem.
Binance spokesperson
French financial watchdog identified Binance on list of exchanges lacking MiCA credentials
This development comes after France's financial markets regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), issued a cautionary statement on Jan. 13 identifying Binance as one of 90 cryptocurrency platforms that held registration status but had not yet obtained full MiCA licensing.
According to the regulatory body, these companies received notifications in the latter part of 2025 informing them that the transitional period for MiCA compliance in France would expire on June 30, meaning any firms failing to meet requirements would be prohibited from continuing operations starting in July.
Established in 2017, Binance holds the position as the globe's most prominent centralized cryptocurrency exchange (CEX) measured by trading activity, processing an average of $11.9 billion in daily trading volume based on reported figures, according to data from CoinGecko.
We see MiCA as a positive and important milestone for the industry — one that brings greater regulatory clarity, stronger user protections, and a clear framework for responsible innovation.
Binance spokesperson
No MiCA licenses have been granted by Greek authorities thus far
Information accessible to the public from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) reveals that Greece has yet to authorize even one MiCA license for any crypto-asset service provider (CASP) up to this point.
According to data current as of Jan. 15, Germany and the Netherlands are at the forefront of the European Union regarding the number of CASP MiCA licenses issued, having authorized 43 and 22 respectively, whereas France's AMF has approved 11 applications for authorization.
On Friday of last week, KBC — recognized as one of the largest banking institutions in Belgium — revealed its intentions to introduce Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) trading services beginning in February.
The financial institution indicated it anticipated receiving a MiCA license within Belgium, a nation that has not yet granted its first regulatory authorization under this comprehensive framework.