The Block reporter Gareth Jenkinson, on June 18, cited sources on X saying that ECB President Christine Lagarde directly ordered Greece to reject Binance’s MiCA license application. The report says that before the intervention, Binance had essentially already obtained preliminary approval. Binance has now turned to France as the only remaining path to obtain MiCA authorization, but it has not yet officially submitted an application.
Binance’s MiCA application timeline and why the June 30 deadline matters
Based on publicly available information, Binance’s MiCA application timeline is as follows: in December 2025, Binance set up the Greek holding company Binary Greece as a cornerstone for its European operations; in January 2026, Binance formally submitted its MiCA application to Greece’s HCMC. A MiCA authorization can be used across 27 EU member states, and Greece’s decision is decisive for Binance’s entire EU business.
June 30 is the hard deadline for the MiCA transition period. All crypto companies that have not obtained MiCA authorization will be banned from providing services in the EU starting July 1. Binance is the exchange with the highest average daily trading volume globally, so exiting the EU would have a major impact on its operations.
The discrepancy between Reuters’ report and Binance’s official response
Reuters, on June 16, cited two sources saying that Greece’s HCMC is expected to reject Binance’s application before the June 30 deadline.
In a blog statement, Binance denied the report and said: Over the past 18 months, Binance has maintained constructive cooperation with regulators; according to Binance, the HCMC has completed its review of the application and believes it meets MiCA requirements; the application has also been submitted for review to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and the HCMC said it intends to move forward with the approval process. Binance added that Europe is “at the core of its long-term plans,” and it is still “willing and prepared to operate under a truly unified MiCA framework.”
What Jenkinson’s source claims: alleged behind-the-scenes ECB intervention
Jenkinson’s source cited on the X platform claims the following: Lagarde, head of the ECB, directly ordered Greece to reject Binance’s MiCA application; before the ECB intervention, Binance had basically already obtained preliminary approval from the Greek regulator.
It is important to note that Jenkinson’s claim is based on unnamed sources, and there has been no official statement from any ECB or HCMC officials. The ECB has also not responded to this claim. In the post, Jenkinson pointed out: “If the ECB ultimately manipulates things behind the scenes, that’s not good news for crypto.”
FAQs
Has the claim that the ECB chief ordered Greece to reject Binance been officially verified?
No official verification has been obtained yet. The claim comes from The Block reporter Gareth Jenkinson citing unnamed sources. Neither the ECB, HCMC, nor Binance has issued an official confirmation statement. HCMC declined to comment citing confidentiality requirements, and the ECB has not responded.
What MiCA authorization options does Binance currently have?
Based on existing reports: rumors that the Greece route, which was initially expected to work, is facing rejection. Cryptopolitan reported that Binance has viewed France as the only remaining route, but it has not yet formally submitted an application. Before the June 30 deadline, Binance’s options are extremely limited.
If Binance does not obtain MiCA authorization by June 30, what happens?
Under MiCA rules, crypto companies that have not been authorized will not be able to legally provide services in the EU starting July 1. This means Binance would be forced to stop offering trading and related services to users in the EU’s 27 member states unless it can continue operating through other temporary arrangements or legal routes.
