ECB's Lagarde Reportedly Pressured Greece to Block Binance's EU Crypto License

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde allegedly intervened to prevent Binance from obtaining a cryptocurrency license under the EU's MiCA regulatory framework, according to the Wall Street Journal. Despite the ECB having no formal licensing authority under MiCA, Lagarde's high-level pressure reportedly caused Greek regulators to stall Binance's application. Notably, Greek authorities had previously assessed the application as complete and ready for approval. The move highlights growing tension between top EU financial officials and major crypto exchanges seeking regulatory legitimacy in Europe.