French crypto platform Coinhouse has received authorization under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework through France’s financial regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers, placing it among the early firms operating under the new European rulebook.
The approval is part of a wider regulatory effort in Europe aimed at standardizing how crypto companies operate across member states. MiCA introduces unified requirements for custody, transparency, and investor protection, replacing the previously fragmented national licensing approach.
Coinhouse obtient l’agrément MiCA en qualité de Prestataire de Services sur Crypto-Actifs (PSCA) auprès de l’Autorité des marchés financiers (@AMF_actu).
Une étape structurante pour @Coinhousefr, et un signal fort dans un marché crypto en pleine maturation.
MiCA établit un… pic.twitter.com/U6MjQk7UGd
— Coinhouse (@Coinhousefr) May 11, 2026
Does being MiCA-licensed give crypto exchanges an edge in Europe?
MiCA introduces a licensing system for Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs), meaning only authorized firms can legally offer crypto services like trading, custody, and portfolio management across all EU countries. Major exchanges such as Coinbase, OKX, Crypto.com, and Bitpanda are securing these licences to operate across Europe under “passporting” rights. The framework sets strict rules on governance, capital, and investor protection, and full compliance is being enforced through 2025–2026.
MiCA pushes stricter compliance across the crypto sector
The framework raises operational standards for crypto firms, requiring clearer governance, stronger safeguards for client assets, and more structured reporting. This is expected to reshape how service providers scale across Europe.
For regulated platforms like Coinhouse, the licence strengthens their ability to operate within a single compliance structure across the EU while reinforcing their position in an increasingly regulated market.
For crypto organizations in Europe, the MiCA framework sets a single rulebook. Instead of dealing with different national licences, firms now have to meet one standard for compliance, custody, transparency, and reporting. This raises the entry bar. Smaller or less compliant firms may struggle with costs, while established players are better positioned to expand across the EU. It also makes it easier for regulated companies to scale beyond France without reapplying for licences in each country.
The role of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers is also strengthened under this system, as national regulators now act as key entry points into a wider European market.
For the crypto community in France, the impact is mostly about trust and access. Users are likely to see more regulated platforms, clearer disclosures, and stronger protections around custody and trading. This reduces some of the uncertainty that has surrounded crypto services in previous years.
At the same time, the stricter rules may reduce the number of platforms offering high-risk or loosely regulated products. That could lead to fewer options, but more stability in the services that remain.
Overall, MiCA pushes the crypto market in Europe closer to traditional finance standards. The trade-off is clear: less flexibility for providers, but more safety and structure for users.
In another development, the French financial regulator disclosed that roughly 30% of crypto companies lacking an EU license have failed to inform the Authority of their plans, specifically whether they intend to pursue a MiCA license or cease operations by the July deadline.
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