Greece Submits First Batch of Crypto Firms Under EU's MiCA Regime

Greece has submitted its first entrants into the European Union's fully enforced digital assets regime under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulations. The country has added four crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to the region's master registry: Bcash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece, and Piraeus Bank.

These entrants offer a range of services including crypto exchanges, tokenization, and digital asset-focused services integrated into their offerings. The Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) directly oversees Bcash, Xenios, and Capital Wallet, while the Bank of Greece supervises Piraeus. This distinction reflects the division of responsibilities between the financial regulator and the central bank.

The submission has sparked some controversy surrounding Binance's rejected application for a MiCA license via the HCMC. The exchange was among the applicants, but pulled out without disclosing reasons. Speculation arose that ECB pressure led to the rejection, as Binance accounted for more than 50% of Europe's digital asset market.