First Greek licenses under MiCA. BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece and Piraeus Bank are now included in the European register of cryptoasset service providers. These four registrations mark Greece's entry into the list maintained by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
This news comes as the Greek regulator denies information according to which Christine Lagarde intervened in the examination of the request filed then withdrawn by Binance.
Key Points
Four Greek companies appear in ESMAâs MiCA register for the first time
Three are under the Hellenic Capital Markets Commission and Piraeus Bank under the Bank of Greece
Binance withdrew its authorization request on June 24, before any official decision
The HCMC denies any intervention by the ECB or the Greek government in the examination of the file
MiCA: first four providers registered in Greece
The four companies did not obtain their authorization at the same time. The Hellenic Capital Markets Commission, or HCMC, approved BCash on June 30, 2026, followed by Xenios Blockchain Group and Capital Wallet Greece on July 22. The Bank of Greece finally authorized Piraeus Bank on August 7. Their simultaneous appearance in the European register results from the timing of data transmission and publication by ESMA.
This distribution also illustrates the organization chosen by Athens. The HCMC supervises BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group and Capital Wallet Greece, while the central bank remains the competent authority for Piraeus Bank. The MiCA regulation allows a Member State to designate several supervisors and share their missions.
The permitted services also differ. BCash can exchange cryptoassets for funds, while Xenios Blockchain Group receives and transmits orders. Capital Wallet Greece has a broader scope including custody, exchanges and transfers. Piraeus Bank may offer order custody, execution and transmission services.
A MiCA authorization can then be used in other countries of the European Union using the European passport. This avoids obtaining a new license in each state, but requires a notification procedure with the authorities concerned.
Binance, Christine Lagarde and a formally contested narrative
And Binance could have become one of the first major international players to obtain MiCA authorization in Greece. However, the platform withdrew its request on June 24, 2026, before the HCMC rendered a decision. It therefore does not have pending Greek approval.
We recall in this regard that the Wall Street Journal reported on September 18 that Christine Lagarde intervened with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in order to prevent authorization. According to the newspaper, a vice-president of the HCMC would have mentioned this intervention to representatives of Binance. This version was based on anonymous sources and still remains contested.
In a written response, the HCMC affirms that none of its officials made the comments reported. She also assures that she has not received any communication from the ECB, the Greek Prime Minister, his services or the Ministry of Finance regarding Binance's request.
The ECB and Binance have not commented on the substance of these claims. In addition, Christine Lagarde has no formal power to grant or refuse MiCA authorization. This competence belongs to the designated national authorities, under the common framework of the European regulation.
