Greece Enters EU Crypto Register with Four New Providers Amid Binance Denial

Greece has entered the European Union's crypto regulatory register for the first time, with four providers added to the MiCA register. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) updated its register on Thursday, adding six other crypto-asset service providers from Germany, France, and Slovenia. This brings the total number of unique providers in the register to 359.

The distinction of becoming Greece's first MiCA-authorized provider could have gone to Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange by trading volume. However, the exchange withdrew its application on June 24 before a formal decision was issued by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC). The Wall Street Journal reported that ECB President Christine Lagarde had intervened to block the application.

The HCMC has denied these claims, stating that no official made the reported remarks and that it received no communication about Binance's application from Greek government officials. This denial covers the report that a vice chair made those remarks to Binance.