Binance Defends EU Licence Compliance Following Reports of Possible Rejection

Binance previously applied for its licensing status under MiCA regulations of the European Union (EU) and it has now issued a statement on a recent report on the potential threat to its licensing operations within the region. The crypto exchange said that Greece's regulator, the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC), a national competent authority under the MiCA framework, has completed reviewing Binance's application for compliance with MiCA and found it to be in line with the requirements, pending European Securities and Markets Authority's (ESMA) approval.

Exchange Responds After Reports of Possible Regulatory Rejection

The statement was issued after Reuters reported that the licensing application of Binance would be denied by EU regulators, thus effectively blocking its ability to operate in the region. According to the MiCA regulations, firms operating within the EU region only have until June to get approval for offering their services to EU citizens. In case the application from Binance to HCMC fails, the firm will not be able to operate legally in the EU from July.

Binance filed an application for its authorisation under MiCA regulations in Greece amid warnings that compliance deadlines are just around the corner. “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 digital financial ecosystem,” the exchange's representative said. 

Other countries, such as France, have always taken a firm stance regarding MiCA. In September 2025, the country warned that it would block companies licensed in other European Union (EU) nations from operating in the country without MiCA. This move has raised concerns about enforcement gaps, which allow companies to use licences obtained in one country to operate across the EU. The French regulators argue that this “passporting” system risks creating loopholes as firms gravitate towards jurisdictions with weaker supervisory standards.

“Binance remains committed to its European users and will continue to operate in compliance with applicable law. We have been pursuing a MiCA licence and have worked constructively with regulators over the past 18 months, including through a comprehensive application process with the HCMC in Greece. Our understanding is that the HCMC completed its review of the application and considered it compliant with MiCA requirements, and that the application was also reviewed at ESMA level. Our understanding is that HCMC informed ESMA that it was their view that the application was compliant and that they intended to progress the licence and move to authorise at an upcoming Board meeting. We remain committed to Europe and we are ready to operate under a fair, predictable, and genuinely harmonised MiCA framework. Clear and consistent regulation is essential for users, for the industry, and for Europe's competitiveness in digital assets,” a Binance spokesperson said in a prepared statement shared with Gadgets 360.