On July 7, the European Parliament approved an official position on the further regulation of digital assets, marking a new stage in the development of crypto regulation in the European Union. The document, titled "Digital Assets – Challenges for the Competitiveness and Integrity of the EU Financial System," establishes the EP's political line but does not yet introduce direct changes to the MiCA regulation or create new legal obligations for market participants.
The key takeaway for the industry: regulators intend to expand the scope of MiCA to sectors that have so far remained in the "gray zone." The priority list includes decentralized finance (DeFi), crypto lending and borrowing, staking, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This is a logical step after the MiCA transitional period ended on July 1, and all crypto companies in the EU are required to obtain a license. The main goal is to prevent fragmentation of the single market, where individual bloc countries start introducing their own local rules.
Notably, regulators also highlighted positive aspects. The European Parliament supported the development of tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) and the use of euro stablecoins, emphasizing that with the right approach, these instruments can enhance the competitiveness of the EU financial system. This is a signal for stablecoin issuers and RWA projects—the European Union sees strategic potential in them.
Public consultations on the possible expansion of MiCA are scheduled for May 2026. Regulators will gather feedback on including new types of crypto activities and revising restrictions related to yield-bearing stablecoins. The market should prepare for regulation to become more comprehensive and detailed.
Binance's Position: European Strategy Remains in Effect
Against this backdrop, Binance provided important clarity. On June 24, the exchange withdrew its MiCA license application in Greece, sparking rumors of a possible exit from Europe. However, on July 4, co-CEO Richard Teng categorically denied these assumptions. He emphasized that Binance is not leaving Europe and is not abandoning MiCA, and that the European market remains a priority for the company. Teng stated that Binance aims to obtain license approval within the set deadlines but did not disclose in which EU country the authorization will be finalized.
Teng also noted that Europe has a unique opportunity to become a global leader in digital asset regulation, but this requires predictable and consistent implementation of rules. He expressed hope that fragmented implementation of MiCA will not prevent the EU from realizing this potential.
Recall that on June 29, the Bybit exchange also announced a phased restriction of services for residents of the European Economic Area, confirming a general trend—European regulators are tightening control, and market participants must adapt.
My comment: Expanding MiCA to DeFi and NFTs is a logical but extremely ambitious step. Regulating decentralized protocols and NFTs, which by their nature are not tied to jurisdictions, will be challenging. However, if the EU manages to create a workable model, it could indeed become a global standard. For now, the market should prepare for increased compliance burdens and stricter requirements for liquidity and operational transparency.