Binance faces a critical regulatory deadline in the European Union. With the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) transitional period ending July 1, the world’s largest crypto exchange still lacks the required license to operate across the 27-nation bloc.
Greece’s Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) is preparing to reject Binance’s application, citing concerns about the company’s compliance record, corporate structure, and past regulatory issues. Binance applied through a Greek entity in January and says it has not received a formal denial.
Binance’s head of Europe, Gillian Lynch, publicly stated the exchange will remain in the EU. Under MiCA, a single national license allows service providers to passport their business across all member states. The company plans to pursue authorization through another EU country if the Greek route fails.
The potential licensing gap could restrict trading, deposits, and withdrawals for European users after July 1. Binance warns that delays might force liquidity and jobs out of the EU, undermining the very investor protections MiCA was designed to provide.