Crypto Firms Face EU License Deadline as MiCA Compliance Looms
French regulators are sounding the alarm as the deadline for crypto firms to comply with the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation approaches. Approximately 30% of unlicensed crypto companies in France have yet to disclose their plans—whether to apply for authorization or wind down operations by July 2026.
Stéphane Pontoizeau of the AMF revealed that only 30% of firms have applied for licenses, while 40% explicitly stated they won't seek one. The remaining companies remain silent, risking forced closure under ESMA's requirement for an "orderly wind-down" of non-compliant businesses.
The regulatory squeeze comes as France intensifies warnings against unregistered crypto services. Market participants now face a binary choice: adapt to MiCA's framework or exit the EU market entirely.
