France
Overview
France's 2019 PACTE law created a registration regime (and optional licence) for digital-asset service providers (PSAN), supervised by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) with the prudential authority ACPR. MiCA now supplies the CASP authorisation regime; the PSAN transitional route closed on 1 July 2026.
The AMF is the MiCA national competent authority. The ACPR is consulted on prudential and AML aspects, and TRACFIN is the financial intelligence unit. A French authorisation passports across the EEA after the Article 62 notification.
Regulatory framework
MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) is directly applicable. The AMF's general regulation carries the French conduct, market-abuse and AML interface; the PACTE/PSAN regime is legacy, not a separate route for new entrants. Crypto-assets that are financial instruments remain outside MiCA and in the MiFID II perimeter.
Third-country firms can use the MiCA Article 60 route only for services at the client's own initiative; reverse solicitation is narrow. Domestic AML/CFT obligations sit alongside the EU TFR and DORA.
Licensing & authorisation
Route and clock. Apply to the AMF (MiCA Arts 62–63). The authority acknowledges within 5 working days, assesses completeness within 25 working days and decides within 40 working days of a complete file; the clock stops for information requests. Plan for completeness rounds; the statutory clock is not an end-to-end promise.
Charges. At the 24 October 2026 check we found no single fixed CASP tariff in an official instrument. Fees are set under the AMF's general fee rules or case-by-case; ask the AMF for the fee basis before filing, and do not budget from consultant ranges.
Own funds. MiCA Art 67 and Annex IV set the minimum at €50,000 (Class 1), €125,000 (Class 2) or €150,000 (Class 3), plus one quarter of the previous year's fixed overheads, held continuously. The class follows the services authorised.
Substance and passport. MiCA Art 59 requires the registered office and head office in France. Plan for a French-law entity, French-resident management, a local AML officer and outsourcing/ICT arrangements that meet AMF and DORA expectations. Once authorised, notify under Art 62 to passport into the EEA.
AML & Travel Rule
The EU Transfer of Funds Regulation (TFR, (EU) 2023/1113) has applied since 30 December 2024. CASP-to-CASP transfers must carry originator and beneficiary information from the first euro; transfers to or from self-hosted wallets above €1,000 require verification of the counterparty.
The AMF and ACPR supervise AML/CFT; TRACFIN receives suspicious transaction reports. DORA has applied since 17 January 2025, and the EU AML Regulation (AMLR) applies from 10 July 2027.
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