Binance may soon lose the ability to serve customers in the European Union. According to Reuters, the Greek capital markets regulator is preparing to reject the exchange’s application for a MiCA licence, which will become essential for the lawful provision of cryptocurrency services across the EU from 1 July 2026.
The matter is significant not only for the company itself, but also for millions of European users. Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange and claims to serve around 300 million customers globally. Obtaining a licence in one of the member states would allow it to benefit from the so-called ‘service passport’ and operate throughout the EU.
Binance submitted an application for MiCA authorisation in Greece in early 2026, setting up a local company, Binary Greece. The company has been emphasising for months that it is cooperating with the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) and meeting regulatory requirements. Company spokespeople state that they have not received any formal indication that the application is set to be rejected.
At the same time, European regulations are becoming increasingly restrictive. The MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) Regulation is set to introduce uniform rules for the supervision of the digital asset market. The aim of the regulation is to enhance investor protection and mitigate the risks associated with the rapidly growing cryptocurrency sector. From July 2026, entities without the appropriate licences will not be able to legally offer their services to EU customers.
The uncertainty surrounding Binance comes at a time when some of its competitors have already secured European licences. Coinbase, Kraken and OKX, amongst others, have obtained MiCA authorisations, allowing them to operate within the single European market.
The exchange itself has announced that it will support an “orderly process” and minimise potential disruption for users. The company is due to provide a further update on its situation before the end of June. If the Reuters report is confirmed, this will be one of the most serious tests of Binance’s regulatory strategy in Europe and an important signal that EU regulations on cryptocurrencies are beginning to be enforced in practice.
