Crypto in France: legality, regulation, and tax
This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.
Owning, buying, and selling crypto is legal in France as of March 2026, though crypto is not legal tender. Crypto asset service providers are supervised by the Autorite des marches financiers, known as the AMF, alongside the ACPR, under the EU MiCA regulation. France taxes occasional crypto gains under a flat tax, which rose from 30 percent to 31.4 percent from 1 January 2026 after social contributions increased, with total annual disposals below 305 euro exempt. This is general information, not tax advice.
Is crypto legal in France?
Yes. Owning, buying, and selling crypto is legal in France as of March 2026. Crypto is not legal tender, but it is lawful to hold and to trade, and France was an early mover in building a national framework for digital assets. The Autorite des marches financiers, known as the AMF, supervises crypto asset service providers, working with the Autorite de controle prudentiel et de resolution, known as the ACPR, while the Direction generale des Finances publiques, known as the DGFiP, sets out how crypto is taxed.
France now sits inside the European Union framework for crypto. The Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation, known as MiCA, applies across the EU, with the provisions for crypto asset service providers applicable from 30 December 2024. France adapted its national law through Ordinance 2024-936 of 15 October 2024 and Decree 2025-169 of 21 February 2025, moving from its earlier PSAN regime toward the MiCA authorisation that the AMF now grants. This position carries an as of date of June 2026.
The rules in detail
Holding, buying, and selling
Individuals can legally hold crypto in their own wallets and buy or sell through registered or authorised platforms, as of March 2026. There is no cap on personal holdings and no ban on self custody. Crypto held as a private investment is taxed under the rules described below, and converting crypto to euros or using it to pay for goods or services is generally a taxable disposal, while a swap from one crypto to another is not.
The AMF, MiCA, and the PSAN transition
France created its digital asset service provider regime, the PSAN regime, under the 2019 PACTE law, with a basic registration that was mandatory for activities such as custody and exchange, and an optional fuller authorisation. Under MiCA, that national regime is being replaced by a single EU authorisation, the crypto asset service provider or CASP authorisation, granted by the AMF. Providers registered or licensed before MiCA may continue under a transitional period that ends on 1 July 2026, as of March 2026. After that date, only providers holding MiCA authorisation may serve French residents, and operating crypto services without the required authorisation can carry criminal penalties under French law. These dates carry an as of date of June 2026.
What this means for users
For an everyday user the practical position is clear but moving. Use a platform that holds MiCA authorisation from the AMF, or one passported into France from another EU member state, keep careful records of every disposal for tax, and watch the 1 July 2026 deadline, because a provider that does not secure authorisation must stop serving French residents. Most of the new obligations fall on the providers rather than on individuals.
Tax on crypto in France
For occasional private investors, the DGFiP taxes the gain when crypto is converted into euros or used to pay for goods or services, as of March 2026. A swap from one crypto asset to another is not a taxable event under the current French rules, so tax is generally triggered only when you cash out to fiat or spend. There is a threshold: if your total disposals across the year stay below 305 euro, the gain is exempt. The threshold is measured on total disposal proceeds rather than on profit, so crossing it can make the whole gain taxable.
The default rate is the flat tax, the prelevement forfaitaire unique or PFU. It combined a 12.8 percent income tax component with social contributions. The social contributions component rose from 17.2 percent to 18.6 percent from 1 January 2026 under the PLFSS 2026 adopted in December 2025, which lifted the headline flat tax from 30 percent to 31.4 percent, as of March 2026. Taxpayers can instead elect the progressive income tax scale where that is more favourable. Occasional gains are reported on form 2086 attached to the annual income return.
Activities treated as professional or as mining are taxed differently, generally as non commercial profits, the BNC, at progressive rates rather than under the flat tax. This is general information, not tax advice, so verify the current rate, thresholds, and your own status with the DGFiP and a qualified tax adviser before filing.
How to act legally in France
To buy or sell crypto compliantly, use a platform that holds MiCA authorisation from the AMF, or one passported into France from another EU member state. Several established platforms operate for French residents as of March 2026, including Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda, and Bitstamp. Compare the available options before you choose, and verify the current authorisation and the platform terms before you sign up, since the field is still settling during the transition to MiCA.
Compare exchanges available to France users
Platforms that operate for France residents under the MiCA framework include Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda, and Bitstamp. See the available options side by side, then verify the current position with the platform and the AMF before you sign up.
Compare available exchangesRegulator and sources
- Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) supervision and authorisation of crypto asset service providers under MiCA, including the notice that the transitional period for PSAN providers ends 1 July 2026, current to June 2026.
- Autorite de controle prudentiel et de resolution (ACPR) anti money laundering supervision of digital asset service providers alongside the AMF.
- Direction generale des Finances publiques (DGFiP) guidance on the taxation of digital assets, including the flat tax, the 305 euro threshold, and form 2086.
Frequently asked questions
Is crypto legal in France?
Yes. Owning, buying, and selling crypto is legal in France as of March 2026. Crypto is not legal tender, but it is lawful to hold and trade. Crypto asset service providers are supervised by the AMF, with the ACPR, under the EU MiCA regulation, and the DGFiP taxes crypto gains. Verify the current position before acting.
Do crypto exchanges need a licence in France?
Yes. A crypto asset service provider must hold MiCA authorisation, known in France as a CASP authorisation, granted by the AMF to operate, as of March 2026. The former PSAN providers registered under the PACTE law may continue during a transitional period that ends on 1 July 2026, after which only MiCA authorised providers may serve French residents.
How is crypto taxed in France?
For occasional private investors, the DGFiP taxes gains when crypto is converted to euros or used to pay for goods or services, under a flat tax. The flat tax was 30 percent and rose to 31.4 percent from 1 January 2026 after social contributions increased under the PLFSS 2026, as of March 2026. Crypto to crypto swaps are not taxed, and total annual disposals below 305 euro are exempt. This is not tax advice, so verify before filing.
Can I use a self custody wallet in France?
Yes. Individuals can legally hold their own crypto in a self custody wallet in France as of March 2026. There is no ban on self custody and no cap on personal holdings. Holders must still report taxable disposals to the DGFiP.
Which exchanges are available in France?
Several established platforms operate for French residents under the MiCA framework as of March 2026, including Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda, and Bitstamp. Availability and authorisation can change during the transition to MiCA, so verify current status with the AMF or the platform before you sign up.
Is the crypto flat tax changing in France?
Yes. The flat tax that applies to crypto gains rose from 30 percent to 31.4 percent from 1 January 2026, because the social contributions component increased from 17.2 percent to 18.6 percent under the PLFSS 2026 adopted in December 2025, as of March 2026. Confirm the current rate with the DGFiP and a tax adviser before filing.
Related pages
Risk and change note: crypto rules change frequently and can shift with little notice. The MiCA transition is reshaping which platforms may serve French residents, with the PSAN transitional period ending 1 July 2026, and the flat tax rate moved at the start of 2026. The positions above carry an as of date and were last reviewed on June 21, 2026. Confirm the current rules with the named regulator and a qualified local professional before you act.
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