Crypto regulation in France
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.
Crypto is legal and regulated in France as of May 2026. The AMF authorises and supervises crypto asset service providers, with the ACPR on anti money laundering, under the EU MiCA regulation. France is moving from its national PSAN regime, created by the 2019 PACTE law, to the single MiCA crypto asset service provider authorisation, with a transitional period for existing providers ending on 1 July 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Who regulates crypto in France
Two authorities sit at the centre of crypto supervision in France as of May 2026. The Autorite des marches financiers, known as the AMF, is the lead authority that registers and authorises crypto asset service providers and oversees their conduct. The Autorite de controle prudentiel et de resolution, known as the ACPR, works alongside the AMF, in particular on anti money laundering and the fitness of providers. Taxation is handled separately by the Direction generale des Finances publiques, known as the DGFiP. France was one of the first EU countries to build a bespoke national framework for digital assets, which is now being folded into the EU wide MiCA regime.
The framework in detail
From the PACTE law to the PSAN regime
France introduced its digital asset service provider framework, the PSAN regime, through the PACTE law in 2019. It required mandatory registration with the AMF for core activities such as the custody of digital assets and the exchange of digital assets for fiat or for other digital assets, and it offered an optional fuller authorisation for providers that wanted to demonstrate a higher standard. This regime gave France an established register of providers before MiCA arrived, and it shaped how the transition is being handled, as of May 2026.
MiCA and the move to CASP authorisation
The Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation, known as MiCA, sets a single EU framework for crypto asset service providers, with the provider provisions applicable from 30 December 2024. France adapted its national law to MiCA through Ordinance 2024-936 of 15 October 2024 and Decree 2025-169 of 21 February 2025, and the AMF began accepting applications for the MiCA crypto asset service provider authorisation, the CASP authorisation. The AMF has published a simplified procedure to help existing PSAN providers move across, with a faster review for providers that already held the fuller PSAN authorisation. These dates carry an as of date of June 2026.
The 1 July 2026 deadline
Providers registered or licensed in France before MiCA may continue to serve French residents during a transitional period that ends on 1 July 2026, as of May 2026. The AMF has issued reminders that, from that date, only providers holding MiCA authorisation may operate. Industry reporting in early 2026 suggested that a significant number of French providers had not yet secured or applied for authorisation, which means the list of platforms lawfully serving French residents could change as the deadline passes. Providing crypto asset services without the required authorisation can carry criminal penalties under French law.
What this means for users
For an individual, crypto remains lawful to hold and to trade, and the regulatory weight falls mainly on providers rather than on users. The practical step is to confirm that any platform you use holds MiCA authorisation from the AMF, or is validly passported into France from another EU member state, and to keep watching the transition through 1 July 2026. The AMF keeps public registers and warning lists, which are the right place to check a provider's status rather than relying on marketing.
Tax note for French users
Regulation and tax are separate. The DGFiP taxes occasional crypto gains under a flat tax when crypto is converted to euros or spent, which rose from 30 percent to 31.4 percent from 1 January 2026, with total annual disposals below 305 euro exempt, as of May 2026. Mining and professional activity are taxed differently as non commercial profits. See the France tax page for detail. This is general information, not tax advice, so verify with the DGFiP and a qualified adviser before filing.
How to act legally in France
Use a platform that holds MiCA authorisation from the AMF or one passported into France. Several established platforms operate for French residents as of May 2026, including Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda, and Bitstamp. Compare the available options, then verify current authorisation before you sign up.
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) registration and MiCA authorisation of crypto asset service providers, and the reminder that the PSAN transitional period 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.
- Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) adapted into French law through Ordinance 2024-936 and Decree 2025-169, with provider provisions applicable from 30 December 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates crypto in France?
The AMF authorises and supervises crypto asset service providers in France, working with the ACPR on anti money laundering supervision. The DGFiP handles taxation. This is the position as of May 2026.
What is the PSAN regime in France?
The PSAN regime is the French digital asset service provider framework created by the 2019 PACTE law. It set a mandatory registration for activities such as custody and exchange, plus an optional fuller authorisation. As of May 2026 it is being replaced by the MiCA crypto asset service provider authorisation, with a transitional period ending 1 July 2026.
When does the MiCA transition end in France?
The transitional period that lets pre MiCA providers continue serving French residents ends on 1 July 2026, as of May 2026. After that date, only providers holding MiCA authorisation as a crypto asset service provider may operate in France. The AMF has reminded providers of this deadline.
Is Bitcoin legal tender in France?
No. Bitcoin and other crypto assets are not legal tender in France as of May 2026. The euro is the only legal tender. Crypto is lawful to hold and trade, and is treated as a digital asset for regulatory and tax purposes, not as currency.
What happens if a crypto exchange operates in France without authorisation?
After the transitional period ends on 1 July 2026, providing crypto asset services to French residents without MiCA authorisation is not permitted, as of May 2026. French law attaches penalties to unauthorised provision, and the AMF maintains public lists and warnings. Confirm a platform holds current authorisation before using it.
Related pages
Risk and change note: the regulatory picture is in active transition. The PSAN transitional period ends 1 July 2026, and the set of platforms lawfully serving French residents may shift as that deadline passes. The positions above carry an as of date and were last reviewed on June 21, 2026. Confirm the current rules with the AMF and a qualified local professional before you act.
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