Binance has confirmed that it will close affected customer accounts across several European countries on December 31, 2026, following changes under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations. Customers who still have cryptocurrency in their accounts will also face monthly maintenance charges starting November 29, giving users an earlier deadline to withdraw their funds and avoid additional costs.
The exchange has already started sending account closure notices to customers in France, Spain, Italy, and Poland. Binance said the closures are part of a planned process following the end of the EU’s MiCA transition period. Customers affected by the decision can still access their accounts to withdraw their cryptocurrency and regular currency balances before the final closure date.
A Binance spokesperson confirmed that the affected accounts will officially close on December 31, 2026. The company also explained that deposits and some other services have already been restricted, but customers can continue withdrawing their remaining funds during the transition period.
The new monthly charges are another important concern for users who have continued holding cryptocurrency on the exchange. According to the notices sent by Binance, customers who still have crypto balances from November 29 will be charged a monthly maintenance fee of 0.025% of their remaining holdings, with a minimum charge of 10 USDC.
This means customers will pay at least 10 USDC even if the percentage-based calculation results in a smaller amount. For example, someone holding $1,000 worth of cryptocurrency would normally owe just $0.25 under the 0.025% calculation. However, because of the minimum fee, Binance would charge 10 USDC instead.
The impact could be even greater for customers with smaller balances. Someone holding just $100 in cryptocurrency would still face the same 10 USDC minimum charge, which represents 10% of their holdings. If an account contains less cryptocurrency than the minimum fee, Binance’s notice warns that the remaining balance could be completely deducted to cover the charge.
The first fee calculation will take place on November 29, with the initial deduction expected within the following three days. Another calculation is expected after December 24, meaning some customers could face a second maintenance charge before their accounts officially close.
Binance will first collect the charges from any USDC available in the account. If there is not enough USDC to cover the fee, the exchange may use other cryptocurrency holdings to collect the remaining amount. Customers who withdraw all their funds before November 29 can avoid these new monthly maintenance charges.
The account closures are connected to the European Union’s new cryptocurrency regulatory framework, known as MiCA. The regulation introduced common rules for crypto companies operating across EU member states and requires service providers to obtain the necessary authorization to continue offering covered services.
France has been one of the main countries affected by these changes. Binance France previously operated under a national registration granted in May 2022. However, that registration automatically expired on July 2, 2026, after the previous regulatory arrangements ended and the company failed to obtain the required MiCA authorization.
Binance had also explored obtaining a European license through Greece but withdrew its application in June. The company later indicated that it would look for another European country through which it could pursue authorization, although it has not publicly confirmed a replacement jurisdiction.
Regulatory questions surrounding Binance’s European operations have continued since the transition period ended. The exchange has maintained that it wants to continue serving the European market and is working toward meeting the new licensing requirements.
Customers who fail to withdraw their assets before December 31 could face further complications. Binance’s customer notice explains that cryptocurrency left in closed accounts may be handled under the exchange’s inactive-account rules. Depending on the circumstances, remaining assets could be converted, transferred to another custodian, or processed according to its terms of service.
The exchange has not announced a successful EU-wide authorization so far, while its efforts to secure a licensing route remain ongoing. For affected customers, the immediate priority is to withdraw their remaining funds before the November 29 fee deadline rather than wait until the final account closure on December 31.
The situation highlights how Europe’s new crypto regulations are affecting major exchanges and their customers, with Binance now moving toward closing accounts in several countries while continuing to work on its regulatory position in the region.