Is Monero legal in France?
Legal to own, but regulated EU exchanges have largely dropped XMR, and an EU-wide ban on CASPs handling it starts 10 July 2027.
| Owning XMR | Legal |
|---|---|
| Local exchanges | Delisted by licensed exchanges |
| National rule | Exchange ban on privacy coins coming |
| Regulator | AMF; ACPR; EU AMLA |
| Last reviewed | 25 October 2026 |
The legal situation in France
Owning Monero and using a self-custody wallet is legal in France; no national law bans holding privacy coins. Under MiCA Article 76(3), applicable since 30 Dec 2024, licensed trading platforms may not admit coins with built-in anonymisation unless holders can be identified, and Kraken ended XMR for all EEA clients on 31 Oct 2024. From 10 Jul 2027 the EU AML Regulation (2024/1624, Art. 79(1)) bars CASPs from keeping accounts that allow anonymity-enhancing coins. Binance announced privacy-coin restrictions for French users in May 2023, and XMR stayed on the restricted list after the revision.
Key facts
- 2024-06-19: AML Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 published in the Official Journal; Art. 79(1) bars CASPs from keeping accounts that allow anonymisation 'including through anonymity-enhancing coins', and under Art. 90 it applies from 2027-07-10.
- 2024-12-30: MiCA CASP rules apply; Art. 76(3) blocks admission of crypto-assets with an inbuilt anonymisation function.
- 2024-10-31: Kraken halted XMR trading and deposits for all EEA clients; balances were converted to BTC by 2025-01-06.
- 2024-02-20: Binance removed XMR spot pairs worldwide.
- 2023-05-31: Binance told users in France, Italy, Spain and Poland that privacy coins would be blocked from 2023-06-26, then revised the list; XMR was not among the coins kept available.
- Tax: Occasional investors pay a flat levy (PFU) on gains, 30% and reported to rise to 31.4% after the 2026 increase in social charges; crypto-to-crypto swaps are not taxable events.
What this means for you
Owning Monero in your own wallet is legal, but regulated exchanges here do not list it or are being pushed to drop it. If you hold XMR on an exchange, read what to do when an exchange delists Monero and move it to a wallet you control. Only use buying routes that are legal where you live; see how to buy Monero.
Sources
cointelegraph.com, decrypt.co, esma.europa.eu, lcx.com, springlex.eu, theblock.co.
Sources are listed by publisher so you can look them up yourself; we do not link out.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Check the regulator's own website before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monero legal in France?
Legal to own, but regulated EU exchanges have largely dropped XMR, and an EU-wide ban on CASPs handling it starts 10 July 2027.
Can I buy Monero on a local exchange in France?
No. Licensed exchanges here have delisted XMR or may not list it.