Binance Applies for EU License in Greece as MiCA Clock Ticks

23-Jan-2026 99Bitcoins

Binance applied for a MiCA license in Greece, putting itself near the front of the regulatory line in Europe. MiCA stands for Markets in Crypto-Assets. Think of it like a driver’s license for crypto exchanges across the EU. If an exchange has it, regulators check how it stores funds, runs KYC checks, and handles complaints.

Greece passed Law 5193/2025, naming the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) as the national crypto watchdog. This is now the authority where Binance has submitted its application, even though Greece has not approved a single MiCA license yet.

Early applicants typically hope to secure long-term regulated access before enforcement deadlines kick in.

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Which European Countries Lead the Crypto Market?

Europe is far from monolithic when it comes to crypto activity. Adoption and transaction volumes vary widely, with different countries dominating different metrics:

    1. Russia processed roughly $376.3 billion in crypto transaction volume between mid-2024 and mid-2025, making it the largest in Europe by total value received on-chain. This volume significantly outpaced other major markets like the UK and Germany.
    2. The UK followed Russia with about $273 billion in received cryptocurrency value over the same period, showcasing its role as a mature and institutionally active market.
    3. Germany consistently ranks near the top in both MiCA-licensed entities and active trading. About 18 MiCA CASP licenses have been issued there, more than in any other EU country,  helping position Germany as a regulated hub. Germany also shows strong growth in active users, with reports highlighting hundreds of thousands of daily crypto traders and notable year-over-year increases in engagement.
    4. France and the Netherlands both rank high in terms of crypto activity. France often sees strong overall traffic and engagement, while the Netherlands is a popular base for licensed exchanges. Amsterdam and Paris are frequently cited as regional centres for fintech and crypto compliance.
    5. Ukraine and Poland. Both recorded substantial on-chain volumes and high growth rates, particularly driven by grassroots and remittance-linked usage. Spain and Luxembourg: While smaller than the biggest hubs, they still contribute solid transaction volumes and growing institutional interest.

EU crypto growth

(Source: Chainalysis)

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Binance Applies For Mica License – The Relevance of Greece in the EU Crypto Race

Germany and the Netherlands already lead MiCA approvals, with 43 and 22 licenses. Greece is late, but that also means a clean slate. Binance wants a regulated base before the deadline hits.

This also shows how MiCA is changing behavior. Around 70% of EU crypto trades now happen on compliant exchanges, and institutional deposits jumped 55%.

A MiCA-licensed exchange must keep tighter records and face penalties if it breaks rules. That does not remove risk, but it lowers the odds of sudden shutdowns or frozen withdrawals.

If you are choosing where to buy Bitcoin, this news supports a simple rule: favour regulated platforms.

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The post Binance Applies for EU License in Greece as MiCA Clock Ticks appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

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