On July 7, the European Parliament approved a strategic document outlining the future direction of digital asset regulation in the European Union. The report, "Digital Assets – Challenges for the Competitiveness and Integrity of the EU Financial System," establishes an official political stance but does not yet introduce direct amendments to the MiCA regulation or create new legal obligations for crypto companies.

The key signal is that lawmakers intend to expand oversight to sectors that remain outside the current regulation. The list of priorities includes:

  • DeFi — decentralized finance, where the absence of a single operator creates regulatory gaps;
  • crypto lending and borrowing — a high-risk area for retail investors;
  • staking — the need for a clear definition of status and requirements for providers;
  • NFTs — non-fungible tokens, which currently do not fall under the MiCA classification.

This decision comes immediately after the end of the MiCA transitional period on July 1, when all crypto companies in the EU switched to mandatory licensing. The key task for policymakers is to prevent fragmentation of the single market, as individual bloc countries begin to introduce their own local rules.

Notably, the European Parliament simultaneously supported the development of RWA (real-world assets) and euro stablecoins, noting that with a proper approach, they could enhance the competitiveness of the EU financial system. This is an important signal for issuers and developers.

Public consultations on the potential expansion of MiCA are scheduled for May 2026. They will focus on gathering feedback on including additional types of crypto activities and reviewing restrictions related to yield-bearing stablecoins.

Binance's Position: Withdrawal or Strategic Maneuver?

Against this backdrop, on June 24, Binance withdrew its application for a MiCA license in Greece. The exchange stated its intention to seek authorization in another EU country without disclosing details. Co-CEO Richard Teng clarified the situation on July 4, emphasizing: "Binance is not leaving Europe and is not abandoning MiCA. Europe remains an important market, and we are committed to finding a constructive path through proper channels."

Teng believes the EU has a chance to become a global leader in regulation, but this requires predictable and consistent implementation of MiCA. He expressed hope that fragmented implementation would not deprive the bloc of this opportunity.

My analysis: Binance's actions are not panic but a tactical move. The withdrawal of the application in Greece may be related to choosing a more favorable jurisdiction for the headquarters under MiCA. For the market, this is a signal: even the largest players must adapt, but Europe remains a priority region. At the same time, Bybit has already announced a phased restriction of services for EEA residents — this indicates that the transitional period is over, and market consolidation is inevitable.