Binance is preparing to secure five additional regulatory licenses in Asia this year as it strengthens its presence in the fastest growing crypto market globally.
Key Takeaways
- Binance plans to obtain five additional licenses in Asia this year, which could expand its regulatory presence to more than 20 jurisdictions worldwide.
- The company is focusing heavily on Asia Pacific expansion, a region leading global crypto adoption with hundreds of millions of users.
- Binance currently holds approvals in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand, with South Korea expected to join soon.
- The exchange is also responding to recent scrutiny and allegations related to illicit transactions, while emphasizing its growing compliance efforts.
What Happened?
Binance is planning to expand its regulatory footprint in Asia by securing five additional licenses this year. The move reflects the company’s strategy to deepen its presence in the Asia Pacific region, which continues to lead global cryptocurrency adoption.
SB Seker, Binance’s head of Asia Pacific, confirmed the expansion plans in a recent interview with Nikkei Asia, noting that several licensing efforts are already nearing completion.
⚖️ BINANCE EYES 5 MORE CRYPTO LICENSES THIS YEAR
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) March 4, 2026
Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, says it plans to secure five new crypto licenses across Asia in 2026.
This would bring Binance’s total global licensed jurisdictions to over 20. pic.twitter.com/YLIylYFHVa
Binance Targets Stronger Regulatory Presence in Asia
The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange is intensifying its expansion strategy across Asia as digital asset adoption continues to accelerate across the region. According to SB Seker, Binance aims to secure five new regulatory licenses in Asia during the year, which would increase its presence to well over 20 licensed jurisdictions globally.
Seker said that Binance already holds regulatory approvals in several key Asia Pacific markets, including Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand. The list may soon expand further once the company completes its planned acquisition of South Korean exchange Gopax, which would strengthen its foothold in the Korean market.
While the company did not disclose the exact countries where it plans to obtain licenses, Seker explained that some applications are already nearing completion.
He said some markets are “very close” to final approval, while others involve ongoing discussions with regulators regarding Binance’s business models and how the company can meet local compliance requirements.
Asia Pacific Emerges as Crypto’s Fastest Growing Market
Binance’s expansion strategy reflects the growing importance of the Asia Pacific region for the digital asset industry. Several studies indicate that the region now represents the largest base of cryptocurrency users globally.
A 2025 report estimated that around 535 million adults across Asia Pacific hold or use digital assets, accounting for a major share of global crypto ownership. The region has also surpassed the United States and Europe in terms of retail crypto trading activity.
Seker highlighted the significance of the region, calling Asia Pacific a critical market for the exchange. Seker said:
Binance currently has more than 300 million registered users worldwide and continues to dominate global crypto trading volumes. In 2025 alone, the exchange recorded over $7.1 trillion in spot trading volume, representing nearly 40 percent of activity among the top ten centralized exchanges, according to data from CoinGecko.
Singapore and Other Key Markets Remain Strategic
Despite its strong presence in Asia, Binance has faced regulatory challenges in some markets. In 2021, the company withdrew its application for a license in Singapore and exited retail services in the country after regulators adopted a stricter stance on cryptocurrency platforms.
The company still maintains institutional services and other corporate functions in Singapore, including derivatives operations and over the counter trading activity. According to Seker, the city state remains an important strategic hub for the company, although a decision on re entering the retail market has not yet been made.
Seker also pointed to Japan and South Korea as promising markets because of their clear regulatory frameworks, strong consumer purchasing power, and familiarity with digital technology.
Binance Addresses Compliance Scrutiny
While Binance continues to expand globally, the exchange has also faced renewed scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers. Recent reports in United States media claimed that about $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency transactions were linked to Iranian entities connected to terrorist groups.
Following these reports, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal launched an inquiry into the matter.
Binance has strongly denied wrongdoing. Seker said the allegations “are not substantiated” and emphasized that the exchange maintains strict compliance standards.
“We have built out our compliance team in the last couple of years so that they are the most dominant team in the company,” he said.
The company said its compliance division has expanded rapidly, growing around 30 percent each year over the past two years and now employing approximately 1,500 professionals focused on regulatory compliance and risk management.
Seker added that Binance is working closely with regulators and remains confident that it can address the concerns raised.
“We’re confident of dealing with these allegations.”
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
From my perspective, Binance’s aggressive licensing push in Asia signals where the next phase of crypto growth will come from. In my experience following the crypto industry, regions with large populations, rising digital adoption, and improving regulatory clarity often become the biggest drivers of new users.
Asia Pacific fits that pattern perfectly. With hundreds of millions already using digital assets and governments gradually building clearer frameworks, exchanges that secure regulatory approval early could dominate the market for years. I found Binance’s strategy of focusing heavily on local compliance and regional licensing to be a smart move if it wants to maintain its leadership position in global crypto trading.
