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Binance to close affected European accounts on Dec. 31, with leftover-balance fees starting Nov. 29
Summary
Binance is closing affected customer accounts in parts of Europe on Dec. 31, 2026, and will begin charging leftover balances on Nov. 29, CoinDesk and Cointelegraph reported, each after querying a Binance spokesperson and citing customer emails about the wind-down.
A Binance spokesperson told CoinDesk the exchange is “progressively restricting certain services for affected users” after the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) transition period ended, and that “affected accounts will be closed with effect from 31 December 2026” in “a carefully managed process.” The spokesperson told CoinDesk deposits have been blocked but customers can still withdraw crypto and fiat balances, that users’ assets remain safe and accessible, and that there is “no sudden freeze.”
Cointelegraph separately asked Binance about the notices and received a similar reply: “Following the end of the MiCA transition period, Binance is progressively restricting certain services for affected users, in line with the schedule previously communicated to them.” Cointelegraph, citing Cryptoast, Crypto Briefing and other media that quoted emails sent to users, said Binance France accounts will close on Dec. 31 and that remaining balances face a monthly maintenance fee of 0.025% of the balance, or a minimum of 10 USDC, starting Nov. 29.
CoinDesk, citing emails shared by users, reported the same 0.025% monthly charge or 10 USDC, whichever is higher, with a first deduction within three days of Nov. 29 and a second after Dec. 24; accounts holding less than the fee would have their entire remaining balance taken, and fees would come from USDC first, then other crypto if needed. CoinDesk said users in France as well as Spain, Italy and Poland reported receiving similar notices—countries where Binance had locally registered businesses before the MiCA transition ended—while Cointelegraph said that when it asked specifically about reports of similar emails in Spain and Belgium, the spokesperson made no mention of them. CoinDesk also noted in a later passage that it had not confirmed the email, while pointing to Binance website terms that allow a monthly dormant-account fee.
France’s Autorité des marchés financiers lists BINANCE France SAS (registration E2022-037, dated May 4, 2022) among digital-asset service providers whose registrations automatically lapsed on July 2, 2026, after they did not obtain a MiCA license before France’s national DASP regime ended; Gemini Intergalactic Europe Limited appears on the same automatically delisted list. A Binance spokesperson told CoinDesk the firm’s “commitment to Europe remains unchanged” and that it is “actively progressing [its] authorization pathway.” CoinDesk reported that Binance withdrew a Greek MiCA application in June, has not named another member state, and still does not appear in the European Securities and Markets Authority’s register of authorized crypto-asset providers.
Updates
- Update, : Update (Nov. 9): Bitcoin Magazine reported the closures cover users in France, Spain, Italy and Poland, with deposits blocked, accounts closing Dec. 31 and a monthly fee on idle balances from Nov. 29, as the exchange still lacks an EU license.
Key facts
- CoinDesk (Nov. 7): A Binance spokesperson said the exchange is “progressively restricting certain services for affected users” after the MiCA transition period ended, that “affected accounts will be closed with effect from 31 December 2026,” and described it as “a carefully managed process.”
- CoinDesk, citing the spokesperson: deposits are blocked but customers can still withdraw crypto and fiat balances; users’ assets remain safe and accessible; there is “no sudden freeze.” The spokesperson also said, “Our commitment to Europe remains unchanged, and we are actively progressing our authorization pathway.”
- CoinDesk, citing emails shared by users: leftover crypto balances face a monthly fee of 0.025% or 10 USDC, whichever is higher, starting Nov. 29, with a first charge within three days of that date and a second after Dec. 24; accounts holding less than the fee would have their entire balance taken. Fees would be taken from USDC first, then other crypto; balances remaining after Dec. 31 may be treated as inactive and converted or transferred.
- CoinDesk: Users outside France, including in Spain, Italy and Poland, said they received similar closure emails; Binance first contacted users in France, Spain, Italy and Poland in June, countries where it had run locally registered businesses. In a later passage CoinDesk said “the email hasn’t been confirmed,” while noting Binance website terms allow a monthly dormant-account fee.
- CoinDesk: Binance withdrew its Greek MiCA license application in June and said at the time it planned to seek approval in another unnamed EU member state (“We are confident we will secure a license in the coming months”); CoinDesk said Binance still does not appear in ESMA’s register of authorized crypto providers.
- Cointelegraph (Nov. 8): A Binance spokesperson, answering a Cointelegraph query on Sunday, said: “Following the end of the MiCA transition period, Binance is progressively restricting certain services for affected users, in line with the schedule previously communicated to them.” Asked about reports of similar emails in Spain and Belgium, the spokesperson made no mention of them.
- Cointelegraph, citing Cryptoast, Crypto Briefing and other media that quoted Binance user emails: Binance France accounts will close Dec. 31; remaining balances face a monthly maintenance fee of 0.025% or a minimum of 10 USDC starting Nov. 29; withdrawals must be completed by Nov. 29 to avoid fees.
- Cointelegraph, quoting an email cited by Cryptoast: “Due to the orderly cessation of activities, your Binance France account will close as of December 31, 2026. If you have not withdrawn your crypto-assets as of December 31, 2026, this message constitutes a notification of our intention to consider your account inactive, in accordance with our Terms of Use. This can result in the conversion, transfer or other processing of your crypto-assets.”
- AMF delisted DASP list: BINANCE France SAS, registration E2022-037, was registered on May 4, 2022, for custody, purchase/sale against legal tender, trading of digital assets against other digital assets, and operation of a trading platform (RCS 905 060 109), and was withdrawn on July 2, 2026, for “Automatic caducity due to the end of the MiCA transition period.”
- AMF: All registered DASPs that did not obtain a MiCA license by July 1, 2026, were automatically delisted on July 2, 2026, when France’s PACTE-law national framework was repealed. The same automatically delisted list includes Gemini Intergalactic Europe Limited (E2023-105), also withdrawn on July 2, 2026.
- Bitcoin Magazine reported the affected users are in France, Spain, Italy and Poland, and that Binance still lacks an EU license.