Binance: MiCA Status, European Regulatory History, and Current Compliance Posture

Binance is the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. Its European regulatory situation is complex and has evolved significantly since 2021. As of July 2026, Binance does not appear in the ESMA Interim MiCA CASP Register — the authoritative EU-wide list of authorised crypto-asset service providers.

Binance was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, and Yi He. The exchange launched in July 2017 following a successful initial coin offering (ICO) that raised approximately $15 million. It grew rapidly to become the world's largest crypto exchange by spot trading volume within approximately six months of launch.

The company's corporate structure has historically been complex and geographically distributed. Binance did not initially disclose a formal headquarters, a structure that attracted regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. In 2023, Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to charges related to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act in the United States and stepped down as CEO. Richard Teng, previously CEO of Binance Singapore and a former regulator at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), was appointed CEO in November 2023.

Binance's relationship with European regulators has been turbulent. Between 2021 and 2023, the exchange received warnings or restrictions from regulators in Germany (BaFin), the Netherlands (DNB), Italy (Consob), Poland, and other EU member states. Several of these actions related to the exchange offering services without the required national registrations.

In response to the evolving regulatory environment and the introduction of MiCA, Binance restructured its European operations. The company established a dedicated EU-focused entity and pursued formal authorisation under the MiCA framework. However, as of the most recent ESMA register update (3 July 2026), no Binance entity has been recorded as an authorised CASP.

The ESMA Interim MiCA CASP Register is the authoritative EU-wide list of crypto-asset service providers that have received a MiCA CASP authorisation from a national competent authority (NCA). It is updated weekly and published as a downloadable CSV file.

A search of the register (CASPS.csv, updated 3 July 2026) finds no entry for Binance, Binance EU, or any related entity. By contrast, the following exchanges are confirmed in the register:

• Bybit EU GmbH — FMA Austria (authorised 28 May 2025)
• Bitpanda GmbH — FMA Austria (authorised 9 April 2025)
• Bitstamp Europe S.A. — CSSF Luxembourg
• Coinbase Luxembourg S.A. — CSSF Luxembourg
• OKX Europe Limited — MFSA Malta
• Foris DAX MT Limited (Crypto.com) — MFSA Malta
• eToro (Europe) Ltd — CySEC Cyprus
• Payward Global Solutions Limited / Payward Europe Solutions Limited (Kraken) — Central Bank of Ireland

The absence of Binance from this list does not necessarily mean the exchange is operating illegally in the EU — MiCA includes transitional provisions that allowed pre-existing exchanges to continue operating under national frameworks during a grandfathering period that ran until 1 July 2026. However, the grandfathering period has now expired. Exchanges that have not obtained a MiCA CASP authorisation by this date are no longer covered by the transitional provisions.

Following the 2023 US settlement, Binance undertook a significant compliance overhaul. The company appointed a new Chief Compliance Officer and expanded its compliance team substantially. It also engaged external compliance monitors as part of its US settlement obligations.

In Europe, Binance has implemented Travel Rule compliance under the EU's Transfer of Funds Regulation (TFR), which requires exchanges to collect and transmit originator and beneficiary information for crypto transfers. The company has also strengthened its Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures for EU users.

Whether these compliance improvements have translated into a formal MiCA CASP authorisation is not confirmed by the ESMA register as of July 2026.

Despite its regulatory challenges, Binance remains the dominant exchange by global spot trading volume. The exchange offers one of the broadest selections of tradeable crypto-assets and has a large retail user base across EU member states.

Binance's European operations also include Binance Pay, a payment service, and various earn and staking products, though the availability of specific products for EU users is subject to MiCA's product-specific requirements.

• Founded: 2017
• Founders: Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Yi He
• Current CEO: Richard Teng (appointed November 2023)
• Global trading volume: Largest by spot volume (as of 2026)
• MiCA CASP status: Not found in ESMA register (as of 3 July 2026)
• US settlement: 2023 — Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to BSA violations; $4.3 billion settlement
• MiCA grandfathering period: Expired 1 July 2026

• ESMA — Interim MiCA CASP Register (CASPS.csv): esma.europa.eu/esmas-activities/digital-finance-and-innovation/markets-crypto-assets-regulation-mica
• US Department of Justice — Binance settlement (November 2023): justice.gov
• EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA): eur-lex.europa.eu
• MiCA transitional provisions (Article 143): esma.europa.eu

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. MiCA licence status is based on the ESMA Interim MiCA CASP Register (CASPS.csv, last updated 3 July 2026). Readers should verify current regulatory status directly with ESMA before making any decisions based on an exchange's regulatory standing.