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- Binance faces rising EU regulatory pressure as France highlights its pending MiCA approval status.
- The exchange limits copy trading and unregulated stablecoins while keeping core services active.
- Binary Greece marks Binance’s first formal base aimed at long-term stability under EU MiCA rules.
Binance has taken a major regulatory step in Europe as it filed for authorization under the EU’s MiCA framework through the Hellenic Capital Market Commission in Athens. The application signals the exchange’s need to meet strict EU rules before the 2026 deadline. The filing also reflects the growing urgency for crypto firms operating in Europe.
D News, an English-language Greek outlet, first reported the development. It said the HCMC launched a fast-track review for the submission. Binance later confirmed the application and its ongoing discussions with the regulator.
In 2023, MiCA was established as a digital-asset regulatory framework in Europe. It demands license acquisition among crypto service providers by July 1, 2026. If a firm fails to receive acceptance, it will lose access to several EU markets.
Binance Picks Athens for Its MiCA Entry
The HCMC invited substantial audit and advisory firms to assist in the review. The list consists of Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, and Grant Thornton. Their presence enhances the due diligence procedure of MiCA approval.
Greece is an unusual choice for a European hub. The nation is not traditionally considered a significant financial hub of crypto activity. Nonetheless, Binance chose Athens as the entry point in the MiCA system.
Binance has also created a holding company in the country. The entity is named Binary Greece and is registered as a public limited company. Filings show it will manage investments and provide advisory services.
Gillian Majella Lynch has been appointed Managing Director of Binary Greece. She joined Binance in 2025 as Head of Europe and the U.K. Her background includes leadership roles at Gemini Europe, the Bank of Ireland, and Leveris.
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Approval in Greece would give Binance the ability to access all EU markets through MiCA’s passporting system. The framework allows licensed firms to operate across member states with a single authorization. Companies must still comply with local consumer rules.
Regulatory Pressure Builds on Binance in Europe
Greece has not issued any MiCA licenses yet. Other EU countries, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands, have granted approvals to several firms. This highlights the uneven pace of MiCA rollout across the region.
Binance currently has subsidiaries in several European nations with national regulations. It has offices in France, where regulatory checks have been enforced on it. In October, the exchange revealed an inquiry from JUNALOC, the Parisian financial investigation unit.
Prior to the implementation of MiCA, European regulators had put more pressure on firms. Recently, the officials of France pointed out that Binance is one of the operators that has not been approved. The exchange already offers services like copy trading and unregulated stablecoin products.
Euro users are still able to trade on the spot, make a deposit, and withdraw. The development of Binary Greece will be the first presence of Binance in an official corporate format in the nation. The relocation highlights the attempt by the exchange to gain long-term stability within the single crypto-structure of the EU.
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