Binance Continues EU Onboarding Despite Missing MiCA Licensing Deadline

Tests conducted across Austria, France, Germany, Spain, and Belgium confirm that new accounts can be created and verified using European identity documents. In one instance, an account established on August 19 using a Spanish ID was fully functional within minutes, allowing for cryptocurrency deposits without any warnings regarding the platform's lack of MiCA status. This activity persists despite the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) explicitly instructing unauthorized providers to cease onboarding new customers and initiate wind-down plans by the July 1 cutoff.

Binance, which previously withdrew its licensing application in Greece, maintains that it is actively pursuing authorization through another EU member state. While the exchange has restricted certain services in specific countries, it has not provided a clear explanation for why the registration process remains open to new European residents. A company spokesperson noted that service availability depends on local jurisdictions and internal legal frameworks, asserting that steps have been taken to align with regulatory requirements. As of late August, the official register of authorized providers included 330 firms, yet Binance remains absent from the list, highlighting a significant gap between the exchange's operations and the new regulatory landscape.