Binance Eyes Five New Asian Licenses to Expand Global Reach

• Binance aims for 5 new Asian licenses in 2026, surpassing 20 regulated markets worldwide
• Binance tops 300M users, $7.1T spot volume, 40% of top 10 CEXs trading in Dec 2025
• Binance’s hyperlocal strategy targets local compliance and tailored product offerings in each market

Binance expects to secure five additional crypto licenses in Asia this year, according to its Asia-Pacific head SB Seker. If completed, the exchange will operate in more than 20 licensed jurisdictions globally.

Binance already holds approvals in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand. South Korea is expected to join the list once its acquisition of local exchange Gopax closes.

Seker did not name the five new markets but said some are near final approval while others remain in active discussions with regulators.

As per reports, the strategy is to secure local licenses, align with domestic rules, and expand product access market by market.

APAC Is the Core Growth Engine

Asia-Pacific is now the main growth driver for Binance. The platform has more than 300 million registered users globally. In 2025, it recorded over $7.1 trillion in spot trading volume.

Data shows Binance accounted for nearly 40% of trading activity among the global top 10 centralized exchanges in December 2025. An estimated 535 million adults in Asia-Pacific now hold or use digital assets, representing 74.6% of global crypto owners.

Seker described the region as the crown jewel and said APAC continues to lead global growth.

Japan and South Korea stand out due to clear regulatory frameworks, high disposable income, strong technology adoption, and dense urban populations. Japan also has room for expansion on the institutional side.

Hyperlocal Strategy After Past Setbacks

The expansion push follows a difficult regulatory phase for Binance.

In 2021, the company withdrew its license application in Singapore and exited direct retail services after regulators tightened oversight. It still serves institutional clients in the city-state and maintains corporate and regional functions there, but it does not operate a licensed retail exchange.

Seker said Singapore remains strategically important for headquarters functions, derivatives operations, and over-the-counter trading. A full retail return would require a separate business decision.

The broader Asia plan follows what Binance calls a hyperlocalization strategy. The approach centers on meeting security and compliance requirements in each jurisdiction while increasing product offerings to attract local users.

Moreover, the Binance exec also confirmed that the firm’s compliance division has expanded by 30% year-on-year for the past two years and now includes around 1,500 professionals.

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