Binance France is shutting down operations by December 31, 2026, the exchange confirmed via email notifications sent in early November. Users must withdraw all crypto assets by November 29 or face a 0.025 percent monthly maintenance fee on remaining balances, with a 10 USDC minimum charge.
The closure stems from Binance's failure to secure Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory authorization from an EU member state before the July 1 deadline. A Binance spokesperson said the company is "progressively restricting certain services for affected users" following the end of the MiCA transition period.
Under Binance's Terms of Use, any account remaining inactive after the December 31, 2026 closure date could face conversion, transfer, or other processing of digital assets at the exchange's discretion. The fee structure—starting November 29—creates immediate pressure on French users to move positions off-exchange.
The France shutdown mirrors broader regulatory pressure across the EU. Spain and Belgium users have reportedly received similar closure notices, though Binance declined to comment on those jurisdictions specifically.
Binance operates a 300 million-customer global user base. The Binance app recorded over 4 million downloads across the EU during the past year, underscoring the exchange's scale in a region now turning hostile to unregistered crypto platforms.
