3 min read
Binance has applied for a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license in Greece, ahead of a deadline requiring crypto-asset service providers operating in the EU to secure a license by July 1.
The exchange is working on the application with Greece’s financial regulator, the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC), having established a holding company in the EU member state in December.
Its Greek holding company, Binary Greece, was set up as a single-shareholder public limited company, with initial share capital declared at €25,000.
Binary Greece has been incorporated for an indefinite duration, signalling a long-term strategic presence in the country, while its articles of association state that its primary enterprises will be the offering of financial advisory services and investment in companies in Greece and elsewhere.
Greece has yet to award MiCA licensing to any cryptocurrency service provider, yet Binance told Decrypt that it is “actively engaging” with the HCMC, which began fast-tracking the licensing process after Binance established its local holding company.
“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,” a spokesperson for the exchange said.
In terms of why Binance chose Greece ahead of other EU member states, the exchange told Decrypt that it was partly attracted by the country’s encouraging growth, with the Greek government expecting GDP to rise by 2.4% in 2026.
Its spokesperson said, “Greece is an important contributor to the EU’s economic framework, with an economy growing above the EU average and a strong regulatory environment that promotes financial stability, transparency, and investor protection.”
Without MiCA licensing, Binance would have to cease offering services within the European Union from July 1 onwards.
France’s financial regulator, the AMF, warned earlier this month that 90 crypto-asset service providers registered in France have not yet gained a MiCA license, while 27 of these firms (30%) had not responded to the regulator’s queries on whether they would seek licensing.
Another 27 had responded that they had applied for a license, a group which now includes Binance, which says that it welcomes the MiCA regulation.
Its spokesperson said, “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.”
So far, MiCA licenses have been granted to companies including Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp, eToro, Circle and Revolut.
In September, France’s financial regulator threatened to block so-called passporting of licensing, suggesting that firms may be seeking EU-wide licenses from more lax member states.
The European Commission is also pushing for the European Securities and Markets Authority to have centralized oversight over all crypto-asset service providers in the EU, a move which Malta has opposed.
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