Licence Bid Collapses Days Before Deadline Binance will stop serving customers across the European Union from July 1 after its attempt to secure a MiCA licence in Greece fell apart. Binance h
Binance will stop serving customers across the European Union from July 1 after its attempt to secure a MiCA licence in Greece fell apart. Binance has withdrawn its application for a Markets in Crypto-Assets licence in Greece and will seek authorisation in another EU country instead.The move comes just days before a July 1 MiCA deadline that requires crypto firms to hold a licence in at least one EU member state or wind down operations across the bloc.
Binance submitted its application in January 2026 through a Greek subsidiary, citing the country's skilled workforce and security advantages.Binance's announcement came just one week after a Reuters report indicated its application was going to be rejected by the Greek finance regulator, the HCMC.Greek, Irish and Latvian regulators had reportedly raised concerns about Binance's past legal issues and corporate structure.
MiCA, which entered into force in 2024, established a common EU-wide framework governing crypto asset trading, covering investor protections and anti-money laundering obligations. Exchanges were given until June 30, 2026 to obtain authorisation from a national regulator within the bloc, a deadline the vast majority have failed to meet.
With Greece no longer in play, Binance is expected to pursue authorisation in another EU member state, with France widely viewed as a potential candidate. The exchange already holds a registration with France's Autorité des Marchés Financiers as a digital asset service provider. However, Binance said its French entity "is no longer in a position to accept new clients and from July 1, 2026, will no longer [provide] crypto asset services in France."
The move was not limited to France. "Similar communications have been sent to affected users in other EU markets," the company said. Customers in Poland, Italy, Spain and France have been instructed to withdraw their funds ahead of the cutoff.
Binance has sought to reassure users. The company stated its ambitions in Europe remain unchanged and that it is "confident we will secure a licence in the coming months."Binance states that all user funds remain safe and accessible during the regulatory changes.
The wider picture is stark for the industry. Coinbase secured its MiCA licence from Luxembourg's CSSF, while Kraken has been MiCA-authorised through the Central Bank of Ireland since June 2025, and is live across all 30 EEA countries.Competitors with approved MiCA licences, such as Coinbase and Kraken, stand to gain users seeking compliant trading venues.
Euronews: Binance to halt crypto services across EU countries after failing to secure MiCA approval | CoinDesk: Binance withdraws Greek MiCA bid but vows to remain in the EU
