Greece Enters MiCA Register with Four Providers, Denies Binance-Lagarde Claim

Greece has taken its first steps into the European Union's crypto regulatory framework by adding four providers to the MiCA register. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) updated its register on Thursday, bringing it to 359 unique providers. BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece, and Piraeus Bank are the four Greek providers that made the cut.

While this achievement might have gone to Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange by trading volume, the company withdrew its application on June 24 before a formal decision was made. However, a recent report from The Wall Street Journal suggested that ECB President Christine Lagarde intervened to block the application after Greek officials indicated they intended to approve it.

The Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) has denied the report, stating that no official made the reported remarks and that there was no communication with any ECB official on this matter. The regulator also clarified that oversight for crypto in Greece is split between the HCMC and the Bank of Greece.