Greece has formally entered the European Union's registry of crypto-asset service providers under the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, with four companies now listed by the European Securities and Markets Authority: BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece and Piraeus Bank.
The Hellenic Capital Market Commission authorised BCash on June 30, 2026, followed by Xenios Blockchain Group and Capital Wallet Greece on July 22, 2026. Piraeus Bank received its authorisation separately from the Bank of Greece on August 7, 2026, making it the country's central bank rather than the securities regulator that cleared the lender's crypto activities.
BCash is authorised for the exchange of crypto-assets for funds. Xenios Blockchain Group can provide reception and transmission of orders. Capital Wallet Greece is licensed for custody, exchange and transfer services, while Piraeus Bank's authorisation covers custody, execution and order transmission services.
Binance's withdrawn application
Greece's addition to the MiCA registry comes months after Binance withdrew its own application for a Greek licence on June 24, 2026. The exchange's exit from the Greek process drew fresh attention in September, when the Wall Street Journal reported on September 18 that European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde had intervened with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in connection with Binance's licensing bid.
The Hellenic Capital Market Commission has denied the report. The regulator says it has not received any communication from the ECB, the Greek Prime Minister, his office, or the Ministry of Finance regarding Binance's application. The commission has also pointed out that Lagarde has no formal power to grant or deny a MiCA authorisation, a decision that under the regulation rests with national competent authorities such as the HCMC itself.
What it means for the region
The dispute over the Binance episode sits alongside Greece's practical progress in building out its MiCA-licensed market, now covering exchange services, order transmission, custody and transfer, and a bank-based offering through Piraeus Bank. The registry addition places Greece among the EU member states that have moved firms through national authorisation processes since MiCA's crypto-asset service provider regime took effect, giving Greek residents access to a small but growing set of licensed providers operating under the bloc's harmonised framework.
Neither the ECB nor Binance has issued a public statement responding to the specifics of the Wall Street Journal report.
