Binance MiCA bid faces fresh Europe scrutiny
- Binance’s withdrawn Greek MiCA application has returned to focus after reports that ECB President Christine Lagarde opposed the bid.
- The exchange withdrew its application in June, before Greece’s regulator could formally reject it.
- The dispute highlights wider scrutiny of Binance’s European licensing, as the exchange continues seeking a route to MiCA authorisation.
Binance’s withdrawn Greek MiCA application has come under renewed scrutiny following reports about European officials’ involvement in the process.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that ECB President Christine Lagarde personally urged Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis not to approve Binance’s application.
The report says European regulators raised concerns linked to Binance’s previous US anti-money-laundering case and regulatory record.
Binance had submitted its MiCA application through Greece but withdrew it on June 24 before the Hellenic Capital Market Commission issued a formal decision.
The exchange had previously said the HCMC had completed its review and considered the application compliant with MiCA requirements, while ESMA had also reviewed the application.
Binance has continued serving some European customers through other arrangements while seeking a new route towards MiCA authorisation.
The latest reporting has put Binance’s European licensing strategy back under scrutiny, although claims about officials’ motivations remain attributed to the reports and have not been established as regulatory findings.
