Binance Reveals Massive Asia Expansion Plans

Binance is targeting five new regulatory licenses across Asia in 2026. If all five come through, the world's largest crypto exchange by trading volume will hold licenses or authorizations in more than 20 jurisdictions globally.

The announcement came from an exclusive interview with SB Seker, Binance's Head of Asia-Pacific, published by Nikkei Asia on March 4, 2026. Seker said, "We have five more planned for this year in Asia."

Where Does Binance Stand Right Now?

In the Asia-Pacific region, Binance currently holds regulatory licenses or authorizations in six markets:

• Australia
• India
• Indonesia
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Thailand

Globally, the exchange already operates in approximately 20 licensed or authorized jurisdictions. South Korea is expected to be added soon, pending final regulatory approval of Binance's acquisition of local exchange Gopax. The five new targets for 2026 have not been publicly named. According to Seker, some applications are "very close with the final pieces moving into place," while others are still in active discussions with regulators over business models and local requirements.

Why Asia?

Seker described the Asia-Pacific region as Binance's "crown jewel," and the numbers back that up. According to the CoinDesk APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025 report, 535 million adults in APAC own or use cryptocurrency, representing 74.6% of the global total. The region also drives the majority of retail trading activity worldwide.

Binance processed over $7.1 trillion in spot trading volume in 2025 and currently serves more than 300 million registered users globally. According to CoinGecko, Binance was responsible for roughly 40% of trading volume among the top 10 centralized exchanges last year.

"We have strong growth from all over the world, but APAC is still leading the pack," Seker said.

What Is Binance's Approach?

The strategy combines what Seker calls "hyperlocalization" with a heavy investment in compliance infrastructure. That means tailoring products, security, and compliance frameworks to each individual market.

Seker, who previously held senior positions at Crypto.com, Ant Group, and Rothschild & Co, and served at the Monetary Authority of Singapore before joining Binance, said the compliance team has grown 30% year-on-year to approximately 1,500 professionals. He described that headcount as "far in excess of any other crypto company in this space."

The push comes after a string of regulatory setbacks. In 2021, Binance withdrew a Singapore license application and exited retail services there, though institutional and corporate functions stayed active. The exchange's broader pivot toward full compliance accelerated after its 2023 U.S. settlement and subsequent leadership changes. Seker stressed that even smaller markets like Singapore remain a serious focus.

What Does This Mean for the Market?

Five new Asian licenses would give Binance regulated access to some of the fastest-growing crypto populations on the planet. Regulated local entities typically unlock expanded product offerings, including spot, derivatives, and Web3 wallet services, while also improving user trust in markets where retail adoption is still climbing.

Japan, South Korea, and other markets with established frameworks offer what Seker described as "the basic ingredients for adoption at scale." Getting licensed in a handful of the remaining high-potential Asian markets would tighten Binance's grip on a region that already accounts for nearly three-quarters of global crypto users.

Specific targets should become clearer as applications advance through the year.

Sources

• Nikkei Asia — Exclusive interview with SB Seker, Binance Head of Asia-Pacific, detailing the 2026 licensing targets and APAC strategy