Binance vs ByBit EU Comparison

Editorial assessment, November 2026: We have downgraded Binance to 2.2 out of 5 and do not recommend the exchange. The deciding factor is the missing authorisation: no Binance company is listed in ESMA's register of crypto-asset service providers authorised under MiCA (file dated 5 November 2026, accessed 8 November 2026), and Binance withdrew its application in Greece on 24 June 2026. On top of that came the attack on the exchange's hot wallets on 29 October 2026, after which withdrawals were suspended from 30 October to 1 November. Low trading fees and the large choice of coins do not outweigh this for us. MiCA-licensed exchanges are listed in our comparison of regulated crypto exchanges.

In short: Binance is the world's largest crypto exchange by trading volume: more than 480 coins, spot trading from 0.1%, from 0.075% with BNB, plus futures and a regular proof of reserves. For investors in the EU, licensing comes first: Binance holds no MiCA licence, and according to Binance users in the EU may be restricted depending on their country and account status. According to Binance, balances remain accessible and can be withdrawn.

Is Binance safe and licensed in the EU?

Binance is not taking new customers in the EU at the moment. Crypto exchanges need a licence under the EU's MiCA regulation to serve customers in the EU. The transition period for providers registered under national rules ended on 1 July 2026 across the EU, and on 31 December 2025 in Germany. Binance does not appear in the ESMA register (file of 22 October 2026, 387 licensed providers). Binance withdrew its application with the Greek capital market regulator on 24 June 2026 and announced that it would apply in another EU member state. Background in our report on the Binance MiCA licence.

Reserves and track record: Binance regularly publishes a proof of reserves, verified with a Merkle tree and zk-SNARKs. The snapshot of 1 October 2026 shows coverage of 100.35% for Bitcoin, 100.00% for Ether, 103.88% for USDT and 100.47% for BNB (Binance proof of reserves). For emergencies such as hacks, Binance keeps its SAFU fund. In 2023 Binance pleaded guilty in the US to breaching anti-money laundering rules and paid $4.3 billion.

Hack in October 2026: On the evening of 29 October 2026 an attacker drained crypto from Binance wallets. In an official announcement the exchange puts the damage at around $6.3 billion, of which about $3 billion is frozen on-chain. According to Binance the entry point was an employee's compromised laptop; no private key leak has been found. Binance will cover all losses from its SAFU fund and company funds; according to Recovery Update #4 of 1 November, around 95 percent had been replaced. Since the morning of 1 November the first withdrawals have been running again; at 16:30 UTC the Binance interface showed them open for Bitcoin, Ether, BNB, Solana, XRP, USDT and USDC. Binance expects to publish its full proof of reserves by Tuesday, 3 November (UTC). What happened is in our report on the Binance hack, where the money went in our on-chain analysis. If you want to hold your coins independently of any exchange, our hardware wallet comparison lists the devices.

What you can do yourself: if you still hold funds at Binance, turn on two-factor authentication and a withdrawal address whitelist, and keep larger amounts in your own wallet, for example a hardware wallet, or move them to an exchange with a MiCA licence.

Who is Binance for?

Binance suits experienced traders outside the EU who want a very large choice of coins, futures and low spot fees. If you want to open an account in the EU, choose an exchange with a MiCA licence, such as OKX, Kraken, Bybit EU or Bitvavo. Our report on Binance fees breaks down the costs; all licensed providers are listed in our comparison of regulated crypto exchanges.

In short: Bybit EU combines the technology of one of the largest crypto exchanges with an EU licence: spot trading in more than 100 coins, fixed rates from 0.25% that fall to 0.15% with high euro volume, and a crypto card. For retail clients in the EEA, Bybit EU focuses on spot trading. If you want to buy and hold crypto at a large exchange with a European licence, Bybit EU fits.

Is Bybit safe and licensed in the EU?

Yes, Bybit EU may serve customers across the EU. Bybit EU GmbH, based in Vienna, has been authorised as a crypto-asset service provider under Article 63 MiCA since 28 May 2025, licensed by Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA). Through the EU passport the licence covers 29 EEA countries, including Germany, France and Spain (ESMA register, file of 30 October 2026). It covers custody, exchanging crypto for money and for other crypto, placing and transfer services. Bybit EU itself points out that certain offers on bybit.eu fall outside MiCA supervision; each product page states the framework.

The hack of 21 February 2025: Attackers took ether worth about $1.4 to $1.5 billion from a Bybit group multisig cold wallet by slipping a manipulated transaction past the signers. The FBI attributed the attack to the North Korean group TraderTraitor, better known as Lazarus. On the same day Bybit stated that all client assets were backed 1:1 and that the exchange would cover the loss; withdrawals kept running. On bybit.eu, Bybit EU states 1:1 reserves for all user assets.

Counterparty list: Since September 2026 Bybit has published a list of services its customers must not transact with. If screening flags one of them, Bybit can freeze accounts or restrict funds. Our report on the Bybit counterparty list explains what to check in your payment history.

What you can do yourself: turn on two-factor authentication and a withdrawal address whitelist, keep proof of origin for coins bought peer to peer, and store larger amounts on your own hardware wallet.

Who is Bybit EU for?

Bybit EU suits investors in the EU who want spot trading at a large international exchange with a European licence and who like to pay with crypto. Anyone who regularly trades larger amounts against the euro benefits from the volume tiers. Our comparison of regulated crypto exchanges sets Bybit EU against other licensed exchanges such as OKX, Kraken and Bitvavo.