Cryptocurrency Laws in France: Complete 2026 Guide

Is Cryptocurrency Legal in France?

Yes. France was one of the earliest EU member states to establish a comprehensive crypto framework. The PACTE Law (Plan d\'Action pour la Croissance et la Transformation des Entreprises) of May 2019 created the Prestataire de Services sur Actifs Numériques (PSAN — Digital Asset Service Provider) regime, requiring crypto exchange, custody, and trading service providers to register with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). French residents may legally buy, hold, sell, mine, and self-custody cryptocurrency.

France\'s regulatory architecture rests on three pillars. The AMF supervises crypto-asset service providers and most crypto-related capital-markets activity. The Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR — supervised by the Banque de France) handles prudential and AML/CFT compliance for credit institutions and certain crypto activities. The Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFIP) administers tax. The Banque de France leads on stablecoin policy and is one of the most active European central banks on digital currency research.

With MiCA effective across the EU from December 2024, the PSAN regime is transitioning to the EU-wide Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation. France\'s grandfathering arrangements give existing PSAN-registered firms until July 2026 to obtain a full MiCA CASP licence. Several global exchanges (Binance, Crypto.com, OKX, Bitstamp) have used France as their EU base.

PSAN and MiCA Framework

The PACTE Law created two paths for crypto businesses serving France: a mandatory registration for AML/CFT purposes (PSAN), and a voluntary authorisation (PSAN agréé) bringing higher conduct-of-business obligations. Most major exchanges hold registration; only a handful (Société Générale\'s Forge, a few French custodians) opted for full authorisation.

From 30 December 2024, MiCA\'s Crypto-Asset Service Provider regime applies. Activities covered include custody and administration of crypto-assets, operation of trading platforms, exchange of crypto-assets for funds or other crypto-assets, execution of orders, placing of crypto-assets, reception and transmission of orders, advice, and portfolio management. France\'s implementation under the Order of 30 December 2024 confirms the PSAN grandfathering window.

Crypto Exchanges Available in France

France Crypto Regulatory Timeline

Foreign Account Reporting

French tax residents must declare crypto accounts held with non-French service providers using Form Cerfa No. 3916-bis. The form lists each foreign exchange or wallet provider where the resident has an account, regardless of balance. Failure to declare can incur a fine of €750 per undeclared account (€125 if the omission is corrected). Where the cumulative balance exceeds €50,000 the fine rises to €1,500 per account.

The reporting obligation is separate from tax payment — even if you owe no tax, you must declare the existence of foreign crypto accounts annually with your French tax return. DGFIP increasingly cross-matches Cerfa 3916-bis filings against PSAN-reported data and international DAC8/CARF exchange information.

France Crypto Tax — Summary

Occasional crypto investors face a flat 30% tax (the Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique, or PFU) on net gains: 12.8% income tax plus 17.2% social contributions (CSG/CRDS/prelevements sociaux). The €305 annual gross-disposal exemption keeps casual sales below threshold tax-free.

Professional ("habitual") traders are taxed under the BNC regime as non-commercial profits — typically less favourable for high-volume activity. Mining is BIC (industrial and commercial profits). From the 2023 tax year, taxpayers may opt for progressive income tax instead of the PFU if it produces a lower bill — useful for lower-income filers.

Sources & References