Binance brushes off Lagarde MiCA speculation, reaffirms Europe commitment

Binance declined to address reports of ECB intervention in its Greek MiCA bid, saying it remains committed to securing authorization in Europe.

Binance declined to address a report that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde intervened in its failed Greek crypto license bid and said it continues seeking authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that a vice chair of Greece’s Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) told Binance that Lagarde had asked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis not to approve its application.

Greek officials informed the European Securities and Markets Authority in early June that the regulator intended to approve the license, according to the report.

“We will not comment on speculation,” a Binance spokesperson told Cointelegraph. “In Europe, Binance remains committed to operating on a long-term, compliant basis under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.”

The latest report adds detail to uncertainty surrounding Binance’s Greek application after the exchange applied for a MiCA license in Greece in January. In mid-June, online reports suggested that the HCMC was set to reject the application, while The Big Whale subsequently reported that Lagarde had intervened over the application.

Binance later withdrew its Greek application and said it would seek authorization in another EU jurisdiction just days ahead of the July 1 MiCA deadline.

Cointelegraph contacted the ECB and HCMC for comment but had not received responses by publication.

Related: Deutsche Bank awaits regulatory nod to launch institutional crypto custody solutions

• Binance
• Christine Lagarde
• ECB
• MiCA
• European Union
• Regulation