[News Brief] Apr 22, morning | Binance Said to Have Met Requirements for MiCA License Application Review by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission

Binance Said to Have Met Requirements for MiCA License Application Review by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission

Binance said the Hellenic Capital Market Commission has completed its review of the exchange’s MiCA license application and determined that it satisfies the relevant requirements.

According to Wu Blockchain, the application was also reviewed at the level of the European Securities and Markets Authority. Binance said it will continue pursuing the MiCA license and plans to disclose additional information before June 30.

MiCA is the European Union’s regulatory framework for crypto assets and serves as a key authorization standard for virtual asset service providers, including exchanges, seeking to offer services within the bloc.

U.S. to Immediately Allow Iranian Oil and Fuel Export Sales Under Agreement

Odaily, citing The Wall Street Journal, reported that the United States plans to immediately allow the export and sale of Iranian oil and fuel under a new agreement.

According to the report, a sanctions waiver covering oil sales will take effect immediately after the agreement is signed this week, and support services including banking, shipping, and insurance will also be exempted.

United Against Nuclear Iran said a very large crude carrier loaded with Iranian oil departed Chabahar port and moved into the Gulf of Oman. It was the first such confirmed case since the U.S. imposed a maritime blockade in April this year.

A senior U.S. official said Iran would receive preemptive sanctions relief related to oil sales, but longer-term sanctions easing would depend on whether it keeps the strait open and fulfills demands related to its nuclear program.

Oil Prices Plunge as War-End Expectations Shrink Risk Premium

Oil prices plunged. The market had been pricing in potential crude supply disruptions and damage to energy infrastructure, but expectations that the war could wind down rapidly reduced the geopolitical risk premium.

According to Odaily, traders had been factoring in the possibility of tanker attacks, production outages, damage to liquefied natural gas facilities, and large-scale supply disruptions, but attention has recently shifted toward the possibility of the crisis ending.

Lower oil prices could ease inflationary pressure and support sentiment toward risk assets. However, actual geopolitical de-escalation and supply responses from oil-producing countries are likely to determine the future path of prices.

Binance Says It Will Continue Operating Services for EU Users Legally

Binance said it will continue to operate services for European Union users in a lawful manner.

According to Watcher.Guru, Binance said it remains committed to European users even after reports suggested it could lose authorization to provide services in the EU. The statement comes amid tighter crypto regulation by European authorities.

Solana-Based Tokenized Stocks Record $187.9 Million in 24-Hour Spot Trading Volume

According to Wu Blockchain, on-chain data showed that Solana-based tokenized stocks recorded $187.9 million in 24-hour spot trading volume.

SPCX, a tokenized SpaceX stock product offered by Backpack and Sunrise, recorded more than $105 million in trading volume, accounting for more than half of the total.

SPCX was the most traded token on Solana over the past 24 hours. Tokenized stocks are blockchain-based assets designed to enable trading of traditional assets such as real-world equities on-chain.

1,247 BTC Transferred to Kraken

According to Whale Alert, 1,247 BTC, worth about $82.2 million, was transferred from an unknown wallet to crypto exchange Kraken.

Large BTC inflows to exchanges are generally interpreted as a possible sign of sell-side preparation, though no actual sale has been confirmed.

1,164 BTC Transferred From Coinbase Institutional Account to New Anonymous Wallet

According to Whale Alert, 1,164 BTC was transferred from a Coinbase institutional account to a newly created anonymous wallet.

The transfer was worth about $76.51 million. Coins moved off an exchange may indicate custody-related storage, though any actual trading intent remains unconfirmed.

782 BTC Moved From Coinbase Institutional Wallet to Unknown Wallet

Whale Alert said 782 BTC was transferred from a Coinbase Institutional wallet to an unknown wallet.

The transfer was worth about $51.41 million. Assets moved from exchange-related wallets to external wallets are often interpreted as custody transfers or possible over-the-counter transactions.

CZ Praises Hyperliquid’s Innovation

According to Odaily, the head of Galaxy Research shared remarks by Changpeng Zhao (CZ) on X regarding Hyperliquid.

CZ said Hyperliquid’s innovation is impressive, adding that it captured a niche market that Binance finds difficult to compete in by promoting decentralization without know-your-customer procedures.

However, CZ added that based on his industry experience, he would not adopt Hyperliquid’s current operating model himself. He added, “They must have very good lawyers.”

Arthur Hayes Pushes Back Against ZachXBT Criticism

Arthur Hayes responded to criticism from ZachXBT over his public comments on altcoins, saying, “I never told anyone to follow my trades.”

According to Wu Blockchain, Hayes said in a June 13 interview with Cointelegraph that he is not a financial adviser and that his social media posts merely shared movements in his personal portfolio.

ZachXBT had previously criticized Hayes on the grounds that he made bullish public comments on altcoins and then exited his positions, effectively using his audience as exit liquidity.

Hayes responded that investors should do their own research and challenged critics to find any post in which he explicitly told people to buy or sell a specific asset.