What to Know

  • Binance users in some European countries are receiving emails urging them to withdraw crypto before monthly fees begin on Nov. 29.
  • Affected accounts are set to close with effect from Dec. 31, 2026.
  • Users in Spain, France, Italy and Poland have said they received similar notices about withdrawal access and account closures.
  • Deposits have been blocked for affected users, while withdrawals of crypto and fiat balances remain available.
  • Binance says users’ assets remain safe and accessible and that there is no sudden freeze.
  • The exchange has no MiCA license listed in the European Securities and Markets Authority register of authorized crypto providers.
  • Starting Nov. 29, Binance will charge 0.025% of remaining crypto balances each month, or 10 USDC, whichever is higher.
  • The first charge is expected within three days of Nov. 29, with a second charge after Dec. 24.
  • Accounts with less than the applicable fee may have the entire balance taken, based on the notices sent to users.
  • Binance says its commitment to Europe remains unchanged and that it is progressing its authorization pathway.

Binance Moves to Restrict Services for Some European Users

Binance users in parts of Europe are being told to remove their funds from the platform before new monthly charges apply to remaining balances and before affected accounts close at the end of the year. The notices mark another significant step in the exchange’s adjustment to the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets framework, widely known as MiCA, which has reshaped how crypto platforms can serve customers across the bloc.

The company has said it is progressively restricting certain services for affected users following the end of the transition period under the EU rules. Under the timeline communicated to customers, monthly charges on remaining crypto balances begin on Nov. 29, while affected accounts will be closed with effect from Dec. 31, 2026. Binance has described the process as carefully managed and has emphasized that customers are still able to withdraw assets.

The development has drawn attention because Binance remains one of the most widely recognized crypto exchanges in the world, and Europe has been a major market for digital asset trading platforms seeking regulatory clarity. MiCA was designed to create a unified authorization framework for crypto asset service providers across the European Union, replacing a patchwork of national regimes with a single authorization route that can allow firms to operate across member states.

Withdrawal Access Remains Open as Deposits Are Blocked

Customer notices circulating among users indicate that deposits have been blocked for affected accounts, while withdrawals remain available. Binance has said users can still withdraw both crypto and fiat balances, and that assets remain safe and accessible. The exchange has also pushed back against any suggestion of an abrupt freeze, saying there is no sudden freeze on customer funds.

That distinction matters for users trying to understand the practical impact. A blocked deposit means customers cannot add new funds to affected accounts, but continued withdrawal access means they can still move assets away from the platform before charges begin and before account closure. For crypto users, this may involve transferring digital assets to another exchange, a self custody wallet, or another regulated provider where access is available under local rules.

Some users in Spain, France, Italy and Poland have said they received closure related emails. Binance first contacted users in France, Spain, Italy and Poland in June, urging them to withdraw. Those are markets where Binance had operated locally registered businesses before the MiCA transition period ended. Users in countries where the exchange did not have a local entity, including Portugal, have not been singled out in the same way, though they remain subject to broader EU restrictions.

Fees Begin Before Account Closures

The fee schedule communicated to affected users is notable because it applies before the final account closure date. Starting Nov. 29, Binance will charge 0.025% of a user’s remaining crypto balance each month, or 10 USDC, whichever is higher. The first charge is expected within three days of Nov. 29, while a second charge is expected after Dec. 24.

The notices also state that accounts with less than the fee may have their entire balance taken. Under the closure plan, Binance will deduct fees from USDC holdings first, then from other crypto assets if needed. The exchange has said that accounts with crypto remaining after Dec. 31 may be treated as inactive, which could result in assets being converted or transferred.

For users, the practical message is clear: balances left untouched could be reduced by charges before the account closure date. Smaller accounts may be particularly sensitive to the 10 USDC minimum because that floor may exceed the percentage based amount for users holding limited balances. Customers who received notices may therefore need to review balances and withdrawal options before the Nov. 29 fee start date.

MiCA Authorization Remains the Central Issue

The regulatory backdrop is the European Union’s MiCA regime. MiCA requires crypto exchanges and other crypto asset service providers to secure authorization in an EU member state if they want to serve customers across the bloc. Once authorized, a provider can use the EU framework to operate more broadly, but without authorization, firms face restrictions on offering services to European users.

Binance still has no MiCA license listed in the European Securities and Markets Authority register of authorized crypto providers. The exchange withdrew its application for a Greek MiCA license in June and said it planned to seek approval in another EU member state, though it has not named that jurisdiction. At the time, Binance said it was confident it would secure a license in the coming months.

France offers a useful example of the regulatory transition. The Autorité des marchés financiers lists Binance France’s registration, held since May 2022, as having lapsed automatically on July 2. That date marked the end of France’s national registration regime, when more than 50 providers without a MiCA license, including Gemini’s European unit, were removed. The shift demonstrates how national registrations have given way to the new EU level framework.

Binance Says Europe Remains a Priority

Despite the account closure notices, Binance has said its commitment to Europe remains unchanged and that it is actively progressing its authorization pathway. That language suggests the exchange is not abandoning the region, but rather limiting services while working through licensing requirements under the new framework.

For crypto platforms, Europe remains strategically important because MiCA offers a clearer rulebook than many other jurisdictions. However, the framework also imposes formal authorization obligations, governance standards and compliance responsibilities. Exchanges that operated under prior national registrations must now either secure approval under the EU regime or scale back activity in markets where they are not authorized to serve users.

For Binance customers affected by the notices, the issue is more immediate than strategic. They face a specific timeline, a fee start date and a final account closure date. Users who want to avoid charges may need to act before Nov. 29, while users who want to avoid potential post closure handling of remaining assets have until Dec. 31 under the communicated plan.

What Users Should Watch Next

The next important date is Nov. 29, when the monthly charge is scheduled to begin on remaining crypto balances. The first charge is expected within three days of that date, and another is scheduled after Dec. 24. The final account closure date is Dec. 31, 2026, when affected accounts are set to close.

Users should also watch whether Binance names the EU member state where it plans to seek MiCA approval. A successful authorization could reshape the exchange’s European operating position, although there is no current indication in the ESMA register that Binance has secured that status. Until then, affected customers are being pushed toward withdrawals rather than continued account use.

For the wider crypto market, the Binance notices underline the real world impact of MiCA’s transition from national registration systems to a unified EU licensing regime. The rules are not simply a background compliance matter; they are changing account access, deposit availability and the operating choices of major exchanges. As the year end deadline approaches, European users who received notices will likely focus on transferring funds, avoiding fees and clarifying how remaining balances will be handled after account closure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are some Binance users in Europe being told to withdraw funds?

Some users are being urged to withdraw funds because Binance is progressively restricting services for affected accounts following the end of the transition period under the European Union’s MiCA rules.

When do the new Binance fees begin for affected users?

The fees are scheduled to begin on Nov. 29. The first charge is expected within three days of that date, with another charge expected after Dec. 24.

How much is Binance charging on remaining balances?

Binance will charge 0.025% of the remaining crypto balance each month, or 10 USDC, whichever is higher.

When will affected Binance accounts close?

Affected accounts are set to close with effect from Dec. 31, 2026, according to the communicated closure plan.

Can affected users still withdraw crypto and fiat?

Yes. Binance has said affected users can still withdraw crypto and fiat balances, even though deposits have been blocked for those accounts.

Are user assets frozen on Binance?

Binance says users’ assets remain safe and accessible and that there is no sudden freeze. The key restriction is that affected users are being directed to withdraw rather than continue using the accounts normally.

Which countries have users reported receiving notices?

Users in France, Spain, Italy and Poland have said they received similar notices. Binance previously contacted users in France, Spain, Italy and Poland in June, urging them to withdraw.

Does Binance currently have a MiCA license?

Binance does not appear in the European Securities and Markets Authority register of authorized crypto providers. The exchange withdrew its application for a Greek MiCA license in June and said it planned to seek approval in another EU member state.

What happens if crypto remains after the account closure date?

Binance has said accounts with crypto remaining after Dec. 31 may be treated as inactive, which may result in assets being converted or transferred.