Brief
Greece Registers First MiCA Crypto Providers as Binance Withdraws Application
Four Greek firms joined the European Securities and Markets Authority’s MiCA register, marking Greece’s first entry, as Binance pulls its bid amid a disputed ECB‑HCMC interaction.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Greece has entered the European Union’s crypto regulatory register for the first time, with four providers added to the European Securities and Markets Authority’s (ESMA) Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) register on Thursday. The firms – BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece and Piraeus Bank – are the country’s first MiCA‑authorised providers, according to Cointelegraph.
BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group and Capital Wallet Greece are listed under the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) as the competent authority, while Piraeus Bank is listed under the Bank of Greece. The split reflects Greece’s implementation of MiCA, which allows member states to designate more than one competent authority and divide regulatory responsibilities between them.
Earlier this month, Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, had applied for MiCA authorisation in Greece. The exchange withdrew its application on 24 June after the HCMC issued a formal decision. A report by the Wall Street Journal on 18 September claimed that European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde had intervened to block the application, after Greek officials indicated that the HCMC intended to approve it. The HCMC denied that any of its officials made the reported remarks, stating that it had received no communication about Binance’s application from the Greek Prime Minister, his office, the Finance Ministry or other government officials. Binance has declined to comment on the speculation, reaffirming its commitment to securing MiCA authorisation in Europe.
With the addition of the four Greek firms, the MiCA register now lists 359 unique providers, including six other crypto‑asset service providers from Germany, France and Slovenia.
Key facts
- Four Greek crypto‑asset service providers – BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece and Piraeus Bank – were added to the MiCA register on 29 September 2026. (cointelegraph.com)
- BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group and Capital Wallet Greece are listed under the HCMC; Piraeus Bank is listed under the Bank of Greece. (cointelegraph.com)
- Binance withdrew its MiCA application on 24 June 2026 after a reported ECB intervention, which the HCMC denied. (cointelegraph.com)
Background
The MiCA register is part of the EU’s regulatory framework for crypto‑assets, allowing providers to offer services across the EU under a passporting system. Greece’s entry marks the country’s first participation in the register, following a split of oversight between the HCMC and the Bank of Greece.
Timeline
- 2026-09-29 — Four Greek firms added to MiCA register
- 2026-06-24 — Binance withdrew its MiCA application
- 2026-09-18 — Wall Street Journal reports ECB intervention in Binance’s Greek application
Why it matters
Greece’s inclusion in the MiCA register signals its commitment to regulated crypto markets and may attract further crypto‑asset service providers to the country.
What happens next
The HCMC and the Bank of Greece will oversee the newly authorised providers, while Binance continues to seek MiCA authorisation elsewhere in the EU.
Sources
- [1] cointelegraph.com — originally reported as “Greece Gets First MiCA Entrants, HCMC Denies Binance-Lagarde Claim”
