Binance Secures MiCA License in Greece - Unlocking Full European Operations

Binance just pulled off a regulatory power move—landing a MiCA license in Greece that opens the floodgates for its entire European expansion.

The Strategic Gateway

Greece isn't just another market on the map. By securing approval under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework there, Binance gets a golden passport to operate across all 27 member states. No more navigating a patchwork of national rules—just one license to rule them all. It’s a masterclass in regulatory arbitrage, the kind of play that leaves legacy finance scrambling to keep up with paperwork while crypto rebuilds the rails.

Why This Changes Everything

For users, it means seamless access. For competitors, it’s a warning shot. Binance isn’t just playing the game; it’s rewriting the rulebook on how a global exchange enters a regulated bloc. They’ve turned compliance into a competitive weapon—cutting through red tape while traditional banks are still faxing their forms. One cynical observer might note it’s the same old finance playbook: find the most strategic regulator, win their blessing, and watch the rest fall in line—only this time, it’s decentralized tech running the table.

The bottom line? Europe’s crypto landscape just got a lot more interesting. Binance is all-in, and the continent is officially open for business.

Greece has not issued any MiCA licenses to crypto firms

Under the European Union’s crypto rules, MiCA, crypto companies must obtain licenses from national regulators to operate across the bloc. Those rules came into force last year, demanding that crypto firms operating on the continent must obtain them before July 1.

Binance began restricting services for European users ahead of MiCA’s compliance deadline. The exchange blocked copy trading and asked users to close positions. It also limited products linked to unregulated stablecoins while maintaining spot trading, deposits, and withdrawals. These were among the first major steps by a major exchange toward MiCA compliance.

As reported by Cryptopolitan, France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers said Binance was among 90 crypto firms registered in the country that remain unlicensed under MiCA. Binance currently operates in at least six European countries through licenses issued by various national regulators. 

The company has offices in several European countries, including France, where it has had a tangled relationship with authorities over compliance policies. In October, Binance confirmed that it has been subject to onsite inspections by JUNALOC, the Paris division of the French Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Meanwhile, public data from the European Securities and Markets Authority shows that Greece has not yet issued any MiCA licenses to crypto-asset service providers. Germany and the Netherlands have issued the most MiCA licenses in the EU, with 43 and 22, respectively. France has granted 11 licenses through the AMF.

MiCA licensing is also extending beyond crypto-native firms. Recently, KBC, a Belgian bank, announced plans to launch bitcoin services and said it expects to obtain a MiCA license in Belgium, which has not yet issued any authorizations.

KuCoin’s European unit has also received a MiCA license in Austria. This approval allows KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH to offer regulated crypto services across 29 countries in the European Economic Area, excluding Malta.

More than 50 crypto companies now hold MiCA approval

Of over 100 platforms registered in France, only four have received full authorization so far. Competitors such as Kraken, Binance, KuCoin, Bybit, Coinbase, and OKX have already obtained MiCA-compliant licenses and now operate in all countries of the European Economic Area or will soon launch. Overall, more than 50 crypto companies now hold MiCA approval.

Tether, the biggest stablecoin, has not yet received a MiCA license. It has already been removed from several EU exchanges. On the other hand, Circle with EURC and USDC, Société Générale-Forge with EURCV and USDCV, and Membrane Finance with EURe and eUSD have successfully cleared the regulatory hurdle. 

The consequences for non-compliant companies are drastic. Regulators have already imposed fines totaling more than 540 million euros against crypto firms that violated regulatory requirements. After the July 2026 deadline, all tolerance ends, and companies without appropriate authorization will lose their operating licenses in the European Union.

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