France Compliance Report

Generated 2026-10-23

Comprehensive Framework

Regulatory Overview

Regulatory Status: Dedicated crypto/VA legislation, licensing regime, active enforcement
Key Regulator(s): Ministry of the Economy
Risk Level: low
Primary Legislation: Regulation (EU, Council Directive (EU
Travel Rule: Adopted — Threshold: Implemented
Tax Reporting: Under BOFiP BOI-RPPM-PVBMC-30-30 (version of 23 April 2024), occasional gains by individuals on digital assets under CGI article 150 VH bis are taxed at 12.8% income tax plus 17.2% social levies, a 30% global rate; for disposals from 1 January 2023 the taxpayer may opt for the progressive income-tax scale, and annual disposals totalling €305 or less are exempt.

Key Facts

aml The loi PACTE of 22 May 2019 created the French PSAN regime, which required at a minimum an AML/CFT framework; the ACPR gave its AML/CFT opinion on each digital-asset service provider before AMF registration because these providers present high money-laundering risks. The ACPR lists Directive (EU) 2015/849 as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/843 (the fifth AML directive) among the EU AML/CFT texts in force in France, alongside Monetary and Financial Code articles L. 561-2 ff.; the AMLR (2024/1624) applies from 10 July 2027 and AMLD6 (2024/1640) must be transposed by that date. MiCA sets CASP minimum capital at €50,000 (Class 1), €125,000 (Class 2, including custody and exchange) or €150,000 (Class 3, trading platforms) under Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114. French PSANs had until 1 July 2026 to obtain AMF authorisation, and transfers of crypto-assets follow Regulation (EU) 2023/1113, which the ACPR lists as in force. EU AML Regulation (AMLR) and Sixth AML Directive (AMLD6): Standardizes KYC as ongoing, risk-based processes across EU, explicitly including CASPs/VASPs; aligns with AMLA for cross-border supervision. 2024 CMF Update: Adds MiCA-aligned requirements for DASPs. Collect, verify, and store identity documents (e.g., two forms of ID); use third parties permitted. Under Regulation (EU) 2023/1113, which the ACPR lists among AML/CFT texts in force in France, a CASP handling a transfer exceeding €1,000 to or from a self-hosted address must verify whether that address is owned or controlled by its client; enhanced vigilance for politically exposed persons is covered by ACPR guidelines under Monetary and Financial Code articles L. 561-2 ff. Ongoing transaction monitoring, KYB for corporate clients (beneficial ownership), and ML/FT risk assessment systems.
general France has been ranked as the top European destination for international investment projects for seven consecutive years (2025). It remains the leading recipient of foreign investment in Europe, driven by a skilled workforce, high-quality infrastructure, diversified industrial base, and access to the EU market. Reduction of corporation tax to 25%. Removal of several production taxes. Labor market reforms for increased flexibility and predictability. Implementation of the PACTE Act (Plan d’Action pour la Croissance et la Transformation des Entreprises). €54 billion “France 2030” investment plan supporting innovative technologies and ecological transition. Paris is now the main financial center of the EU, hosting nearly 347,000 jobs in finance post-Brexit.
licensing The AMF is the French competent authority for MiCA CASP authorisation, and France is the second-largest EU home of authorised CASPs (AMF, 6 July 2026). Circle Internet Financial Europe SAS is listed by ESMA as an AMF-authorised CASP from 23 April 2026 and, separately, as an ACPR-supervised e-money institution issuing the EURC and USDC e-money tokens since 1 July 2024. The ACPR (Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution) is the French prudential and AML/CFT supervisor for banks and insurers, applying Monetary and Financial Code articles L. 561-2 ff. and R. 561-1 ff.; under the PACTE regime it gave its AML/CFT opinion on each PSAN before AMF registration. MiCA Regulation (EU) (2023) — CASP authorization, comprehensive crypto regulation The loi PACTE of 22 May 2019 created the French regime for initial coin offerings and digital-asset service providers (PSAN). The AMF states that this national regime is to disappear under MiCA, and the PSAN transitional period ended on 1 July 2026. France applied the full 18-month MiCA transitional period: PSANs registered or licensed under French law could keep serving clients until 1 July 2026. Since 2 July 2026 only crypto-asset service providers (PSCA) authorised under MiCA may provide crypto-asset services in France; the AMF reported 31 French authorisations on 6 July 2026. Custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients is a MiCA Class 2 service requiring minimum capital of €125,000 (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, Annex IV). In France the AMF authorises CASPs offering it; the ESMA interim register listed 36 AMF-authorised French entries on 14 October 2026. Operating a trading platform for crypto-assets is a MiCA Class 3 service requiring minimum capital of €150,000 (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, Annex IV). In France it requires AMF authorisation as a PSCA, mandatory for all providers since the PSAN transition ended on 1 July 2026. The AMF is the French competent authority that authorises and supervises crypto-asset service providers (PSCA) under MiCA, replacing the PSAN registration and licensing regime of the loi PACTE; it also oversees offers of crypto-assets other than asset-referenced and e-money tokens, whose issuers must be authorised by the ACPR.
tax Under BOFiP BOI-RPPM-PVBMC-30-30 (version of 23 April 2024), occasional gains by individuals on digital assets under CGI article 150 VH bis are taxed at 12.8% income tax plus 17.2% social levies, a 30% global rate; for disposals from 1 January 2023 the taxpayer may opt for the progressive income-tax scale, and annual disposals totalling €305 or less are exempt.
travel rule France applies the EU Transfer of Funds Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 from 30 December 2024, which the ACPR lists among the AML/CFT texts in force; transfers of crypto-assets must carry originator and beneficiary information regardless of amount, with no minimum threshold.

Sources

This report is AI-generated from publicly available regulatory sources. Last updated: 2026-10-14. View full profile