Binance applies for EU crypto license in Greece under MiCA framework

Binance has chosen Greece as the base for its application for a crucial European Union–wide crypto license, filing under the bloc’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regime as the clock ticks toward a July 1 compliance deadline.

The world’s largest crypto exchange has applied for a MiCA license through Greek regulators and established a local holding company. According to a report by local outlet Greek City Times, Binance’s application is being handled on an accelerated basis, with major accounting firms including Ernst & Young and KPMG involved in reviewing the submission.

If approved by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission, the license would allow Binance to operate and market crypto services across all 27 EU member states under MiCA’s passporting framework.

Still, Binance’s decision to file in Greece may come as a surprise to the industry. Athens is not typically seen as a major European financial hub, nor is it known for the overtly crypto-friendly stance associated with jurisdictions such as Malta.

MiCA, which entered into force in 2023, is designed to harmonize crypto regulation across the EU, offering firms a single licensing pathway while imposing stricter requirements around governance, consumer protection, and compliance. Crypto companies with existing EU operations have until the end of June to secure authorization or risk being forced to wind down services in individual countries.

European footprint

The filing comes as Binance seeks to consolidate its European operations after years of regulatory challenges across the region. The exchange has previously withdrawn license applications in countries including Germany and Austria, exited the Netherlands after failing to secure approval, and temporarily halted services in Belgium before reopening via a compliant EU entity. In France, Binance has faced scrutiny from regulators and confirmed last year that it had been subject to onsite inspections by financial authorities.

Those frictions have added urgency to securing a MiCA license, which would allow Binance to replace a patchwork of national approvals with a single authorization. The exchange currently operates in at least six European countries and counts more than 20 million users in the region, per the company's website.