Binance Co-Founder Yi He Challenges EU Regulatory and Licensing Misconceptions

The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, or MiCA, took effect on June 29, 2023. Its stablecoin provisions became applicable on June 30, 2024, followed by rules for other crypto-asset service providers on December 30 that year. The European Securities and Markets Authority maintains the central register, making licensing a critical threshold for exchanges operating in Europe.

Binance co-founder Yi He addressed concerns about the company's European strategy in a lengthy bilingual post on X on June 26, 2026. She said the EU accounts for a relatively small share of Binance's business but remains strategically important. Citing the early bans faced by Uber and Airbnb, she argued that regulatory setbacks can make companies stronger. She also stressed that holding a license does not necessarily amount to genuine compliance, adding that Binance would operate to the industry's gold standard with the goal of surpassing traditional finance.