France AMF MiCA Reminds Crypto Firm of MiCA Deadline in July

Key Insights

• The French financial regulator says the transition period for the EU MiCA regulation will end on July 1.
• The authority has said that any crypto entity operating in the country must be licensed under MiCA by 2026 H2.
• It is now calling on crypto firms to start the registration process now as it can take more than 4 months

France’s financial regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), has called on crypto asset service providers (CASPs) to obtain their MiCA licenses before the end of the 1st half of the year.

In a post on its website, the regulator issued the reminder, noting that the transition period for the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation will end on July 1, 2026.

EU CASPs Must Be Licensed Under MiCA by 2026 H2

According to the regulator, the transition period provided for crypto entities that have been operating in France prior to MiCA is about to end. When the EU passed MiCA in 2023, it phased in enforcement by starting with stablecoin rules.

While full application of the rules became effective from December 30, 2024, there was still a transition period for DASPs already operating. This was to give crypto entities enough time to complete their MiCA registrations.

However, the AMF noted that with the transition period ending, only crypto entities licensed under MiCA can continue to provide crypto services in the EU. This would mean that such CASPs are licensed by the AMF or another national regulator in Europe, or are eligible for the procedure under Article 60 of MiCA.

It said:

“As a reminder, CASPs are subject to requirements common to all services and to requirements specific to each service. CASPs authorised under MiCA may benefit from a European passport and provide their services in other Member States of the European Union.”

AMF further warned that CASPs not licensed under MiCA must ensure they cease their services by July 1. It stated that failure to comply could carry a two-year prison sentence and a fine of €30,000 (~$35,700).

AMF Calls on Crypto Firms to Register, Says It Can Take Up to 4 Months

Meanwhile, the release appears to be another call on crypto firms in France to register under MiCA. Already, several regulators in Europe have been issuing reminders to notify entities about the end of the transitional period.

AMF particularly noted in its post that the registration can take up to four months after all documents have been submitted. However, it noted that complete submissions are rare on the first try, which could further lengthen the process.

Thus, it called on all entities that want to remain operational but have yet to begin the process to do so now.

It said:

“The AMF therefore invites DASPs wishing to continue their activities and who have not yet submitted a MiCA authorisation file to do so as soon as possible. They should pay particular attention to the completeness and the quality of the application.”

Firms that do not plan to continue their activities are now required to start winding down their operations by March 30. With about 90 unlicensed crypto firms registered in France, the country could see many exits in July. In 2025, the country ranked fifth among European countries in crypto volume.

A director at AMF Stephane Pontoizeau told Reuters in January that the regulator only has 30% of the companies that have applied for MiCA licenses. 40% have already said they will not apply, while the remaining have yet to disclose their plans.

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