🇫🇷 France vs 🇳🇱 Netherlands: crypto licensing compared
Decision context and regulator route
France and Netherlands are commonly considered side by side for crypto authorisation. In France the route is the MiCA CASP authorisation (French 'agrement PSCA'); replaces the legacy PSAN regime (mandatory AML registration + optional licence). A single authorisation covers the 10 MiCA services. overseen by AMF (Autorite des marches financiers) grants and supervises the CASP authorisation; ACPR (Banque de France) gives binding assent on AML/CFT and prudential aspects via a joint examination team.; in Netherlands it is the MiCA CASP Authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), granted by AFM; DNB co-assesses fitness/propriety and AML for licence holders under Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) - lead conduct regulator and licensing authority; De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) supports with prudential/AML input. The public licence and regulator fields below are open to everyone; the complete sourced comparison is included with access.
France: verified 2026-08-15 · Netherlands: verified 2026-08-15
| Dimension |
🇫🇷 France
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
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🇳🇱 Netherlands
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
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|---|---|---|
| Licence type | MiCA CASP authorisation (French 'agrement PSCA'); replaces the legacy PSAN regime (mandatory AML registration + optional licence). A single authorisation covers the 10 MiCA services. | MiCA CASP Authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), granted by AFM; DNB co-assesses fitness/propriety and AML for licence holders |
| Regulator | AMF (Autorite des marches financiers) grants and supervises the CASP authorisation; ACPR (Banque de France) gives binding assent on AML/CFT and prudential aspects via a joint examination team. | Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) - lead conduct regulator and licensing authority; De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) supports with prudential/AML input |
| Capital requirement | France capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | France timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | France local substance is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands local substance is included in the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | France application cost is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands application cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | France ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | France passporting is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands passporting is included in the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | France mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | France key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. |
| Recent changes | France used the full 18-month transition, ending 1 Jul 2026 (today). Deblock first CASP (May 2025), SG-Forge (Oct 2025); ~18 CASPs authorised by 28 May 2026. AMF adopted ESMA staff knowledge/competence guidelines (Mar 2026). | Netherlands became one of the highest-volume MiCA jurisdictions through H1 2026 as the 1 July 2026 EU-wide transitional deadline approached; notable authorisations include Bitvavo, Amdax, MoonPay, Finst, Fiat Republic, and Banxa (Oct 2025); dedicated 'ARI10' authorisation added Feb 2026 per one tracker |
| Difficulty rating | France difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. |
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What changed recently
🇫🇷 France (verified 2026-08-15): France used the full 18-month transition, ending 1 Jul 2026 (today). Deblock first CASP (May 2025), SG-Forge (Oct 2025); ~18 CASPs authorised by 28 May 2026. AMF adopted ESMA staff knowledge/competence guidelines (Mar 2026).
🇳🇱 Netherlands (verified 2026-07-02): Netherlands became one of the highest-volume MiCA jurisdictions through H1 2026 as the 1 July 2026 EU-wide transitional deadline approached; notable authorisations include Bitvavo, Amdax, MoonPay, Finst, Fiat Republic, and Banxa (Oct 2025); dedicated 'ARI10' authorisation added Feb 2026 per one tracker
Quick answers
Who regulates crypto licensing in France and Netherlands?
France: AMF (Autorite des marches financiers) grants and supervises the CASP authorisation; ACPR (Banque de France) gives binding assent on AML/CFT and prudential aspects via a joint examination team.. Netherlands: Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) - lead conduct regulator and licensing authority; De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) supports with prudential/AML input.
What licence do you need in France compared with Netherlands?
In France the authorisation route is MiCA CASP authorisation (French 'agrement PSCA'); replaces the legacy PSAN regime (mandatory AML registration + optional licence). A single authorisation covers the 10 MiCA services.; in Netherlands it is MiCA CASP Authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), granted by AFM; DNB co-assesses fitness/propriety and AML for licence holders. The comparison table on this page lines the two up dimension by dimension.
Where can I see the full France vs Netherlands comparison?
The interactive benchmark lets you pin either jurisdiction and add up to five peers; a Founder Pass or Pro subscription unlocks every gated figure with its source and verification date. This page stays free at /crypto/compare/france-vs-netherlands.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.