Binance declined to address a report that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde intervened in its withdrawn Greek crypto license bid, saying it remains committed to securing MiCA authorization in Europe. The exchange withdrew its Greek application days ahead of the July 1 MiCA deadline and is now pursuing licensing in another EU jurisdiction.
The Wall Street Journal reported that a vice chair of Greece's Hellenic Capital Market Commission told Binance that Lagarde had asked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis not to approve its application. Binance declined to address that report and said it continues seeking authorization under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.
A Binance spokesperson said: "We will not comment on speculation." The spokesperson added that Binance remains committed to operating on a long-term, compliant basis under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.
A stalled Greek application
Binance applied for a MiCA license in Greece in January. Greek officials informed the European Securities and Markets Authority in early June that the regulator intended to approve the license, according to the report. Yet online reports in mid-June suggested the Hellenic Capital Market Commission was set to reject the application instead, and The Big Whale subsequently reported that Lagarde had intervened over the bid.
The exchange later withdrew its Greek application and said it would seek authorization in another EU jurisdiction, doing so just days ahead of the July 1 MiCA deadline.
No response from regulators
Cointelegraph contacted the ECB and the Hellenic Capital Market Commission for comment but had not received responses by publication.
Source: Cointelegraph
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