Some of the links on this site may be affiliate links. ICOBench may receive advertising commissions when users visit recommended platforms via our affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. All recommendations are based on a comprehensive review process. 
French financial regulators have raised alarms as more than 90 crypto companies operating in France remain non-compliant with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, even as the transitional period nears its end.
🇫🇷 In #France, 90 #crypto companies risk shutting down due to the lack of a #MiCA license.
According to the AMF, around 40% of them do not plan to seek authorization, while another 30% have not responded to regulatory requests.
Read more:https://t.co/uey0J1zWfn
— GetBlock AML Research (@getblock_en) January 14, 2026
According to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), a significant portion of these firms have either abandoned efforts to obtain a MiCA license or have stopped responding to regulators altogether, despite the risk of being forced to shut down as early as July.
Dozens of Crypto Firms Ignore MiCA Requirements
As the June 30 deadline approaches, French authorities have confirmed that around 90 crypto-related companies are still operating without a valid MiCA license, which is now mandatory under the EU’s new regulatory framework.
The AMF described the situation as concerning, noting that nearly 30% of these firms have failed to respond to repeated outreach from the regulator, which sought clarity on whether they intended to begin the compliance process.
Stéphane Pontoizeau, Executive Director in charge of supervising market intermediaries and infrastructures at the AMF, said the affected companies were formally contacted as early as November and clearly informed of the consequences of inaction.
The end of the transitional period on June 30 marks a decisive turning point for the French crypto market. Firms that fail to meet MiCA requirements by then will be legally required to cease operations starting in July, in line with EU law.
Many Firms Openly Reject MiCA Compliance
Among the 90 non-compliant crypto firms, approximately 40% have explicitly stated that they do not intend to apply for a MiCA license, according to the AMF.
Another 30% claim they have initiated the licensing process, but none of them have yet received approval.
Since MiCA fully entered into force in late 2024, only a small number of crypto companies have successfully obtained authorization in France. These include CoinShares, a major digital asset investment firm licensed in July 2025, and Relai, a Switzerland-based Bitcoin-focused app approved by the AMF in October.
The limited number of approved licenses has intensified doubts about the European Union’s ability to implement MiCA smoothly and efficiently across member states.
EU Considers Centralized Crypto Supervision
In December, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), headquartered in Paris and responsible for overseeing MiCA compliance, reminded unauthorized crypto firms that they must prepare orderly and gradual wind-down plans once the transitional phase ends.
At the same time, the European Commission has proposed expanding ESMA’s powers by granting it centralized supervisory authority over crypto firms across the EU.
The proposal has sparked debate within the industry, with many crypto professionals warning that centralized oversight could lengthen licensing timelines, increase regulatory bottlenecks, and hinder the growth of crypto startups in Europe.
