French Regulators May Intensify AML Checks on Binance and Bitcoin Firms Ahead of EU Licensing

• ACPR conducting onsite AML inspections of dozens of crypto firms, including Binance and Coinhouse.

• France requires crypto providers to obtain national approval before EU licensing; a June 2026 deadline applies.

• Only a handful—Deblock, GOin, Bitstack and CACEIS—have received AMF approval so far, amid calls for ESMA supervision.

French crypto anti-money laundering checks escalate as ACPR inspects exchanges; learn which firms are affected and what the June 2026 EU licensing deadline means for providers. Read on for actions to take.

French regulators intensify anti-money laundering checks on crypto firms as EU-wide oversight draws near.

Published: 2025-10-17 | Updated: 2025-10-17 | Author: COINOTAG

What are French crypto anti-money laundering checks?

French crypto anti-money laundering checks are regulatory inspections and compliance reviews led by the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) and the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) to verify that registered crypto service providers meet France’s AML and KYC standards ahead of EU market licensing. These reviews include onsite inspections, risk-control evaluations and requests for remedial measures.

How are regulators prioritizing firms under review?

ACPR officials have focused inspections on dozens of the more than 100 firms registered as PSANs in France. According to Bloomberg (reported as a plain-text source), the ACPR has asked some firms to strengthen risk controls and compliance programs, with specific reviews of Binance and Coinhouse. The AMF has granted formal approvals to a small set of entities—Deblock, GOin, Bitstack and CACEIS—while others must demonstrate sustained compliance before receiving the national authorization required to transition to EU-wide licensing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which crypto firms in France have already received AMF approval?

As of the latest regulatory reports, a limited number of firms have received AMF approval: Deblock, GOin, Bitstack and CACEIS (a Credit Agricole subsidiary). These approvals indicate full national compliance with France’s PSAN framework and position those firms to pursue broader EU authorization ahead of the 2026 deadline.

Why are French regulators increasing onsite inspections now?

Regulators cite the need to ensure consistent enforcement and prepare for EU-wide oversight. The Bank of France and officials such as François Villeroy de Galhau have urged the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to assume direct supervision of major crypto firms to harmonize enforcement across member states and reduce regulatory fragmentation.

What the inspections involve

Inspections typically assess transaction monitoring, customer due diligence (CDD), suspicious activity reporting (SAR) processes, governance and third-party risk management. In some cases, regulators have issued formal requests for firms to improve controls; Binance acknowledged that regulators recommended upgrades to its compliance and risk frameworks during inspections. These actions are procedural but carry material consequences if deficiencies persist.

Regulatory context and EU coordination

France’s reviews come nearly a year after the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework started phasing in enforcement. Differences in national implementation prompted France, Austria and Italy to ask the EU markets watchdog for direct oversight of large crypto firms. The Bank of France explicitly recommended that ESMA oversee major cross-border crypto operators to ensure uniform enforcement across the single market.

Key Takeaways

• ACPR inspections are expanding: Dozens of onsite AML checks are underway to validate PSAN compliance.
• EU licensing deadline: Firms face a June 2026 timeline to secure national authorization that supports EU-wide licensing.
• Regulatory convergence: Calls for ESMA oversight reflect concern about uneven enforcement across member states; national approvals remain a key gate.

Conclusion

French regulators have stepped up anti-money laundering checks as part of a broader effort to ensure that crypto service providers meet national standards before moving toward EU-wide licenses. The ACPR’s onsite inspections, AMF approvals for a handful of firms and calls for ESMA supervision demonstrate a shift toward stricter, more harmonized oversight. Firms operating in France should prioritize strengthening compliance, transaction monitoring and governance ahead of the June 2026 deadline to avoid regulatory sanctions and ensure eligibility for EU authorizations.

Context and sources: ACPR, AMF, Bank of France statements; reporting attributed to Bloomberg as a plain-text source; quotes from Binance and François Villeroy de Galhau reported in regulatory communications and public statements.

Also Read: CZ Calls For Stricter Crypto DAT Safeguards After QMMM Crisis

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