Buy Bitcoin in France

Crypto Regulation in France

France regulates crypto through a national register for providers, and an EU-wide licensing regime that is now taking over. For users, the key point is that a platform can be compliant for identity checks and AML, while still not offering bank style protections if the platform fails.

On BankToBTC, regulation matters because it changes how your bank treats transfers. It affects how fast SEPA credits, how often first deposits get reviewed, and why withdrawals sometimes ask for more recipient details than they used to.

AMF PSAN registration is an AML gate, not a safety guarantee

France's PACTE framework created PSAN status. Certain crypto services aimed at French users require mandatory registration with the AMF, including custody, buying or selling crypto against fiat, crypto to crypto exchange, and operating a trading platform. Registration is mainly about AML controls, governance, and fit and proper checks.

PSAN registration is not the same as being regulated like a bank. It does not guarantee solvency, does not insure your assets, and does not mean the AMF recommends the platform. Treat it as a baseline filter, not a stamp of safety.

In the PSAN process, the AMF takes its decision after receiving the ACPR's opinion. This is one reason PSAN registration has a strong banking compliance flavour: it is built around AML expectations and supervision links, not investor compensation.

MiCA is now the main regime and France has a transition window

MiCA became applicable for crypto-asset service providers from 30 December 2024. France updated its legal framework to align national rules with MiCA through Ordinance 2024-936 (15 October 2024) and Decree 2025-169 (21 February 2025).

France also has an 18 month transition. Providers that were already operating in line with French rules before MiCA can keep providing services for a maximum period until 1 July 2026, while they seek MiCA authorisation or wind down. This matters because you may see product access, token lists, and onboarding flows change during this period as platforms move into the MiCA perimeter.

The EU travel rule changed withdrawals and wallet transfers

Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 extends information requirements to certain crypto transfers. It applies from 30 December 2024, and EBA guidance supports how firms apply it in practice. On many platforms, this shows up as extra required fields for withdrawals, recipient details for transfers to other platforms, and extra checks when sending to a self-hosted wallet.

• Withdrawals to a new address can trigger a review step because the platform has to collect and validate travel rule data.
• Transfers between two platforms can be delayed if the receiving side cannot accept or match the required sender and beneficiary information.
• Some platforms will ask you to label the recipient, confirm ownership, or provide extra details before releasing funds.

Why SEPA and card deposits get held by French banks

Most funding issues are bank controls, not exchange bugs. French banks treat first transfers to an exchange as higher risk because scam patterns often use new beneficiaries and unusual payment amounts.

• Beneficiary setup delay is common. Some banks require you to add a new IBAN and wait before the first SEPA transfer can be sent.
• Reference errors cause delays. If the exchange provides a reference, missing it can delay crediting or push the deposit into manual review.
• Name mismatches matter. Funding from an account not in the same legal name as your exchange profile increases the chance of rejection or a request for documents.
• Virement instantane is not guaranteed instant. Even when the rail supports it, bank side fraud checks can slow the first payment to a new payee.
• Card deposits depend on issuer policy. Carte Bancaire payments can be declined after repeated attempts, SCA challenges, or risk scoring by the issuing bank.

What to do before you fund an exchange from a French bank

This checklist prevents most failed deposits and missing credit tickets.

• Start with a small test transfer, then scale up after it credits cleanly: SEPA Instant, SEPA Credit Transfer.
• Always copy the beneficiary details and reference from inside the exchange deposit screen. Do not reuse old details: Bank Transfer.
• Match names. Fund from a bank account in the same legal name as your exchange KYC profile.
• Add the beneficiary early if your bank enforces a waiting period for new IBAN payees.
• If your bank blocks the payment, try a higher scoring bank account: Boursorama, Hello bank!, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole.

Tax and account reporting basics for French residents

For individuals, taxable events generally happen when you dispose of crypto for fiat, use crypto to buy goods or services, or otherwise make an onereous disposal. France has a specific regime for occasional disposals under article 150 VH bis. The DGFiP form used to report gains and losses is Form 2086, attached to the annual return.

For many households, the combined rate under the standard flat tax approach is 30 percent, made up of income tax and social contributions, but your situation can differ. The safest workflow is to keep a clean ledger of deposits, trades, fees, and disposals so your Form 2086 calculations are defensible.

If you hold crypto accounts with providers based outside France, you may also need to declare those accounts using the 3916-3916bis annex. This is separate from gains reporting and is often missed.

• Use Form 2086 for plus or minus values from disposals.
• Use Form 3916-3916bis to declare foreign digital asset accounts when required.
• Keep exports and timestamps. If a bank asks about source of funds, a clean audit trail solves it fast.

Quick checks before you trust a platform name

France has both white lists and blacklists. Use them.

• Check the AMF white list for PSAN providers. The AMF explicitly states these registrations and approvals are not an invitation to invest and remain risky.
• Check AMF blacklists and warnings for unauthorised crypto sites and crypto derivatives offers.
• Prefer platforms that publish clear EUR funding instructions and support traceable rails like SEPA: Kraken, Bybit, Coinhouse.