Greece Joins MiCA Register as Piraeus Bank Becomes First Major Banking Institution

Greece has made its first entry into the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) register, with four locally supervised providers appearing in the latest update. BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece, and Piraeus Bank are now listed as authorized crypto-asset service providers.

The MiCA register has seen a significant expansion since its transition period ended, with 37 new providers joining immediately after. This includes firms from Germany, France, and Slovenia, taking the total number of unique authorized providers to 359.

Piraeus Bank's inclusion is notable as it demonstrates how MiCA is drawing conventional lenders into regulated digital-asset services. Its authorization covers services including crypto custody, execution, and transmission of orders, as well as transfers on behalf of clients.

Greece's arrival on the MiCA register gives locally authorized firms access to the EU passporting framework, which allows them to operate across the bloc. However, the inclusion of Piraeus Bank raises questions about the role of conventional lenders in the crypto market.