Binance Was Not Included in the MiCA Register, but Four Greek Entities Were

Greece now has crypto companies listed in the European MiCA registry for the first time. Four Greek entities have been added to the database maintained by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), which tracks authorized crypto service providers. ESMA updates the registry weekly.

This development is notable because Greece had been absent from the registry until now. Previously, Binance attempted to obtain a MiCA license through the country, but the crypto exchange ultimately withdrew that application.

The companies in question are BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece, and Piraeus Bank. With their inclusion, the implementation of the European crypto law MiCA in Greece is taking on a more concrete form.

MiCA introduces common rules within the European Union for companies offering crypto services. A key benefit for companies is that, with the proper license from one member state, they can also operate in other EU countries.

Supervision in Greece is divided among several authorities. The Hellenic Capital Market Commission plays a role for three of the new listings, while the Bank of Greece is also relevant for Piraeus Bank. ESMA confirms that both authorities have jurisdiction within the Greek MiCA supervisory framework.

Furthermore, the general MiCA transition period ended on July 1, 2026. ESMA therefore warns European investors to verify that their provider is actually listed in the registry.

A much bigger name had previously attempted to gain access to the European market via Greece. Binance submitted an application to the Greek regulator but withdrew it on June 24 before a final decision had been made.

The case later garnered renewed attention following a report by The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reported that ECB President Christine Lagarde had spoken out against granting Binance a Greek license and had contacted the Greek government. According to the reports, the Greek regulator disputed parts of that account.

A MiCA license in Greece would have meant much more to Binance than just access to the Greek market. Under MiCA, authorized providers may also offer their crypto services cross-border within the European Union, subject to certain conditions.

With the first Greek entries, the number of countries actually represented in the MiCA register continues to grow. ESMA collects data from national regulators for this purpose and regularly publishes an updated version.

This registry is becoming increasingly important for crypto investors. Now that the transition period has ended, providers subject to MiCA must, in principle, hold the necessary European authorization to continue offering their services.