Binance seeks to deregister in Cyprus to prioritize larger markets.
Binance is apparently getting ready to leave Cyprus. The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission has listed Binance Cyprus Limited as “Under examination for application for deregistration” on its website.
Earlier, the cryptocurrency exchange had received Class 3 registration as a Crypto Asset Services Provider (CASP) in Cyprus in October. At that time, Binance described the registration as “another milestone in Binance’s regulatory efforts in Europe and follows similar registrations for Binance’s local entities in France, Italy and Spain.”
Class 3 is the highest level of service provision in Cyprus and allows the exchange to store crypto assets, offer staking, manage portfolios, and perform a number of other functions in addition to providing a trading platform. Despite this, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed source at the regulator, that Binance never launched its services in Cyprus.
A Binance spokesperson told Cointelegraph:
- ECB to end interest rate hike cycle as inflation slows.
- The Nansen Report states that the Arbitrum airdrop had a positive effect on the adoption of the network despite unfavorable conditions in the cryptocurrency market.
- BTC proponent claims Bitcoin is much bigger than Binance or Coinbase at BTC Prague.
“We are working hard to prepare our business to be fully compliant with MiCA when it is implemented in the next 18 months. To that end, we have made the decision to pull back efforts in Cyprus to focus on our efforts on fewer regulated entities in the EU, especially our larger registered markets.”
The Cypriot regulator lists nine registered CASPs on its website, including Binance. Among the other listings are eToro and a Revolut entity. However, other exchanges such as Crypto.com and Gemini are reportedly receiving registration in Cyprus.
Related: The state of crypto in Southern Europe: Malta leads the way
The crypto industry is preparing for the European Union (EU) Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) legislation to come into force next year. Since Cyprus is an EU member, MiCA regulations will allow Binance to “passport” its registration from other European regulators throughout the countries subject to the new legislation.
BINANCE’S CYPRUS UNIT HAS APPLIED TO DEREGISTER AS CRYPTO ASSET SERVICE PROVIDER IN CYPRUS – SECURITIES REGULATOR WEBSITE
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) June 14, 2023
Binance, Binance.US and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao were sued by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 5 for 13 charges that included unregistered securities sales and failure to register as a securities exchange.
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