Binance Plans New UK License Bid Five Years After Regulatory Ban

Binance is preparing to apply for a UK trading license, marking its first real shot at returning to the British market since regulators shut out its local arm back in 2021. The application period opens September 30 and runs through February 2027, with full rules kicking in by October 2027.

Old Approvals Won’t Carry Over

Every firm, Binance included, must win fresh approval since old registrations don’t transfer automatically. History shows this won’t be easy: past rounds saw hundreds of applications with only a small fraction approved.

Past Troubles Still Matter

Binance’s 2021 UK ban, a $4.3 billion U.S. penalty, and founder Changpeng Zhao’s brief prison term all remain part of the story. Zhao was pardoned in 2025. Fresh allegations linking the platform to sanctioned networks add more pressure, though Binance denies wrongdoing and is suing over the claims.