Four Greek providers join MiCA register; HCMC denies reported Binance-Lagarde claim

BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece and Piraeus Bank appeared on the European Securities and Markets Authority's MiCA register on Thursday. They are Greece's first entries on the register. Six providers from Germany, France and Slovenia were also added. The register now has 359 unique providers. The Hellenic Capital Market Commission is listed as the competent authority for BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group and Capital Wallet Greece. The Bank of Greece is listed as the competent authority for Piraeus Bank. Binance withdrew its Greek MiCA application on June 24 before the commission issued a formal decision. Greek authorization would have allowed Binance to offer services throughout the EU under MiCA's passporting system. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sept. 18 that ECB President Christine Lagarde had intervened in Binance's application. It reported that Greek officials had indicated the commission intended to approve the application. It also reported that a commission vice chair told Binance that Lagarde had asked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis not to approve it. The commission denied that any official made the reported remarks, including those attributed to a vice chair. The commission said it received no communication about Binance's application from Mitsotakis, his office, the Finance Ministry or other Greek government officials. The commission said none of its officials communicated with ECB officials about the matter. Binance said it would not comment on speculation about the reported intervention. Binance reaffirmed its commitment to securing MiCA authorization in Europe. The ECB declined to comment on the report. Mitsotakis' office did not respond to a request for comment.