In France, crypto exchanges must be registered with the AMF as a PSAN (Prestataire de Services sur Actifs Numériques) or hold a valid MiCA authorisation. Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp and Bitpanda are among confirmed MiCA-authorised operators accessible to French traders. Binance withdrew its PSAN registration in 2023 and its MiCA status remains unconfirmed.
Regulatory status: France
France is governed by EU MiCA plus the AMF's own marketing rules for crypto-asset advertising. Even a CASP-authorised exchange must comply with national advertising restrictions, and some products are restricted for French clients under exchanges' own terms. Promotion is restricted, so we show no monetised listings here and keep this as an information-only regulatory guide.
Authority: Autorité des marchés financiers (MiCA) (AMF / ESMA) · official site
Exchanges available in France
Crypto promotion is restricted in this market, so we show no monetised exchange listings here. This page is an information-only regulatory guide.
The PSAN Framework: France's Crypto-Asset Regulation
France established one of Europe's first national crypto-asset regulatory frameworks via the 2019 PACTE law. This framework is administered by the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) and is built around the PSAN status — Prestataire de Services sur Actifs Numériques (Digital Asset Service Provider).
PSANs are subject to AML/CFT obligations, identity verification (KYC) requirements, and client asset protection rules. PSAN registration is mandatory for any platform wishing to operate legally with French clients.
The AMF publishes an official list of registered PSANs on its website, along with a blacklist of unauthorised providers. French traders can check the AMF register at regafi.fr to verify an exchange's status before depositing.
With the EU's MiCA regulation now in force, the PSAN regime is transitioning. Providers with existing PSAN registration benefit from a transitional period to obtain full MiCA authorisation. New entrants can now access the French market via the MiCA passport without prior PSAN registration.
MiCA in France: The Transition and Circle's Role (USDC)
The EU's MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation came fully into force in December 2024. For French traders, this means exchanges operating under a MiCA authorisation granted in any EU member state can now serve clients in France via the European passport — in the same way a bank licensed in one EU country can operate across the Union.
France plays a specific role in the MiCA stablecoin ecosystem. Circle, the issuer of USDC, obtained an electronic money institution (EMI) authorisation from the ACPR (Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution), the French banking regulator. USDC is therefore the leading MiCA-compliant stablecoin available on European exchanges.
Tether (USDT) holds no MiCA authorisation. Several exchanges operating in France have restricted or removed USDT pairs for EU clients since December 2024. French traders who used USDT as a settlement currency should migrate to USDC or EURC.
Exchanges with confirmed MiCA authorisations accessible to French traders include Coinbase (Luxembourg and Ireland), Kraken (Ireland and Luxembourg), Bitstamp (Luxembourg), OKX, Crypto.com, Gemini, and Bitpanda (all authorised in Malta via the MFSA).
Crypto Tax in France: The 30% Flat Tax
Since 2023, capital gains on crypto-asset disposals by French tax residents are subject to the Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique (PFU), commonly known as the flat tax, at a combined rate of 30% (12.8% income tax + 17.2% social contributions).
This regime applies to sales of crypto for fiat currency (EUR, USD, etc.) and conversions between crypto and other taxable assets. Crypto-to-crypto swaps (exchanging one digital asset for another) do not constitute a taxable disposal event in France — a notable advantage compared to several other European countries.
French traders may opt for the progressive income tax scale if their marginal tax rate is below 12.8%. This option must be elected at the annual tax return and applies to all capital income.
Losses can be carried forward against gains of the same category for up to ten years. Disclosure of foreign accounts (Cerfa form 3916) is mandatory for any crypto account held with a foreign platform — non-compliance can result in significant penalties.
This content is provided for information only. Crypto taxation is complex and evolving. Consult a qualified tax adviser for your personal situation.
Exchanges with PSAN Registration or MiCA Authorisation — Status as at 27/06/2026
The list below summarises the regulatory status of major exchanges accessible to French traders. 'Pending' statuses reflect the absence of publicly available confirmation at the time of writing — they do not indicate non-compliance, but that we could not verify status on primary registers (AMF, ESMA, MFSA, CBI, CSSF).
Always verify an exchange's regulatory status on official registers before depositing funds.
French Crypto Trader Profile
French crypto traders share a demographic profile with French forex traders: predominantly male (approximately 80/20), aged 25–45, concentrated in Paris, Lyon and Marseille, with notable representation in the DOM-TOM overseas territories (Caribbean, Réunion, French Guiana).
The French trader is price- and regulation-sensitive. They compare trading and withdrawal fees before committing, and place high weight on regulatory trust signals. AMF whitelist presence or MiCA authorisation is an explicit decision factor.
Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate preferences, but large-cap altcoin adoption (Solana, XRP) is growing. Stablecoins are used primarily for settlement and crypto savings — interest in DeFi protocols remains a minority use case but is growing among advanced traders.
French language is non-negotiable for conversion: interfaces, customer support, and educational content must be available in French to convince a mainland French trader to deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Are crypto exchanges legal in France?
Yes. Crypto exchanges are legal in France, provided they are registered with the AMF as a PSAN or operate under a valid MiCA authorisation issued in an EU member state. French traders can use registered platforms without legal restriction.
Is Binance legal in France?
Binance withdrew its PSAN registration with the AMF in 2023. Its MiCA status has not been publicly confirmed as of 27/06/2026. We recommend checking the AMF register (regafi.fr) and the ESMA register before depositing on Binance.
What is the crypto tax rate in France in 2026?
Capital gains on crypto-asset disposals are taxed at a flat rate of 30% (PFU flat tax: 12.8% income tax + 17.2% social contributions). Crypto-to-crypto swaps are not taxable. Losses can be carried forward for ten years. Consult a tax adviser for your personal situation.
Is USDT (Tether) available on exchanges in France?
Tether (USDT) holds no MiCA authorisation. Since December 2024, several exchanges have removed or restricted USDT pairs for EU clients, including France. USDC (Circle), whose issuer is authorised in France by the ACPR, is the leading MiCA-compliant stablecoin available.
How do I verify if an exchange is authorised in France?
Check the AMF register at regafi.fr for registered PSANs, and the ESMA register for entities authorised under MiCA in the EU. The AMF also publishes a blacklist of unauthorised providers. These checks take under two minutes and are the first step before any deposit.
Do I need to declare my foreign crypto accounts to French tax authorities?
Yes. Any crypto account held with a foreign platform must be declared annually using Cerfa form 3916 (or 3916-bis for crypto). Failure to comply can result in fines of €750 per undeclared account, or more in cases of deliberate non-compliance.