Binance - First steps down a path to regulation?

Binance is blocking futures and derivatives options in Italy, Germany + The Netherlands.

FYI Those countries are some of the more highly regulated European countries and more stringent on the operator/more customer friendly when it comes to sports betting regulations.

So to me this looks like a move to try to appease regulators by showing that they are looking to protect the everyday customers who may not understand leveraged trading and lose money.

It could be to try to take the pressure off the current investigations or the first steps towards potential regulatory licensing down the line or something else I am not sure.

There are similarities with the Crypto industry now comparing back to the online gambling/sports betting industry in the early days. Back then it was like the Wild West, with little to no regulations and the industry was growing faster than the lawmakers could keep up. Fast forward 20 years and it is one of the most highly regulated industries, with companies needing to apply for licenses to operate in individual countries and comply with the various restrictions in each.

Right now crypto is starting to become more popular and mainstream, and as a result regulation is inevitable. Ultimately this will help better protect the every day customer off the street, which will help make the industry more socially acceptable and give it more legitimacy - which isn’t a bad thing.

I see this as the first steps Binance is doing as part of a long-game to get ahead of potential regulations and be among the first companies to apply for, and be granted licenses if/when required. Other steps may also include pulling of of potential “grey area” markets or scaling back their offering in certain places too.