Lagarde Intervention Derails Binance's Greek MiCA License Bid

Binance's bid for a Greek MiCA license was derailed after European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde personally intervened, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The exchange had been on the verge of approval in late May, with Greek officials informing Binance that its application was complete. However, Lagarde reportedly urged Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis not to approve the license due to compliance and dollar stablecoin concerns.

Binance ultimately withdrew its application before a formal decision could be made, citing its commitment to Europe and its desire to pursue authorization in another EU member state.

The setback leaves Binance without an EU-wide MiCA license by the July 1, 2026 deadline. The exchange had previously agreed to pay $4.3 billion as part of a settlement with US authorities over anti-money-laundering and sanctions requirements.