Regulation & Policy

Binance Explores Alternate European Jurisdictions After MiCA Setback

As Binance re-evaluates its continental strategy, data reveals that most departing EU users are opting for self-custody over fully compliant competitor platforms.

By Emily Carter Edited by Julia Sakovich 2 mins read Published: Jul 9, 2026 at 10:57 am UTC

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Binance is actively negotiating with alternative European regulators after withdrawing its comprehensive Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) licensing application in Greece. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Asia conference in Singapore, Binance co-CEO Richard Teng confirmed that multiple European jurisdictions have proactively invited the cryptocurrency exchange to apply for localized operational licenses.

While Teng characterized these ongoing regulatory discussions as “premature” and declined to identify the specific countries involved, the outreach highlights a fragmented enforcement landscape. Under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) guidelines following the July 1 transition deadline, crypto firms are strictly prohibited from serving EU clients without a fully authorized MiCA entity. Binance’s strategic pivot comes after its unexpected Greek departure on June 24, which occurred amid circulating reports that local officials were preparing an outright rejection of the exchange’s bid.

The transition to the rigid MiCA framework has heavily disrupted retail capital allocations across the continent. DefiLlama data indicates that Binance experienced a staggering $1.23 billion in net weekly capital outflows beginning June 29, marking a 207% surge in withdrawals compared to the prior week’s baseline of roughly $400 million.

Parallel Infrastructure Expansion Across Asian Markets

As Binance recalibrates its footprint across the European Union, the exchange is concurrently accelerating its market penetration throughout Asia. Teng highlighted an established and growing regulatory web spanning Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia.

The exchange’s latest Asian deployment materialized via a strategic partnership in the Philippines with local operator BlockShoals Technologies. This arrangement serves as a workaround following strict access restrictions imposed by local watchdogs earlier. According to Marie Antonette Quiogue, head of legal at BlockShoals, the joint structure splits asset compliance. The partnership allows Binance to legally host digital asset trading activities under the oversight of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, while cleanly bypassing the separate, complex banking authorizations required by the central bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) for handling direct fiat peso transfers.

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