Payments & E-Money regulatory updates from France.
We track 8 Payments & E-Money updates from France regulators, published by AMF. The archive covers 4 news items and 4 consultations. Most recent update: July 2026. Coverage runs from 2022 to 2026.
Asset management UCIT Crypto-assets The AMF has published an updated version of its guide for UCITS and AIF depositaries
Why this matters
AMF published updated guidance for UCITS and AIF depositaries addressing operational and regulatory changes, particularly tokenization, crypto-assets, and e-money token settlement.
Financial disclosures & corporate financing Periodic & ongoing disclosures Reporting ESEF Closing of the 2025 accounts: the AMF flags up points for vigilance and issues recommendations
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the AMF covers key areas of focus for financial firms, including reporting and disclosure requirements, ESG considerations, and prudential requirements. It is relevant for a range of financial institutions including banks, brokers, asset managers, and fintechs.
MiCA Other professionals Fintech Journalists Listed companies and issuers The French, Austrian and Italian markets authorities call for a stronger European framework for crypto-asset markets
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the French, Austrian and Italian markets authorities calls for a stronger European framework for crypto-asset markets, which impacts crypto exchanges, fintechs and banks operating in this space. It covers topics related to authorization, consumer protection and prudential requirements.
Crypto-assets Innovation The ACPR and AMF publish the summary of responses to the consultation conducted by the Working Group on Smart Contract Certification
The ACPR and AMF have published a summary of responses to a public consultation on a 2024 Working Group report exploring smart contract certification in DeFi, addressing technical standards, audit practices, and potential regulatory frameworks. This matters for compliance as it signals preparatory steps toward possible EU-level DeFi regulation, emphasizing risk reduction and trust-building without immediate mandates, influencing future operational and audit strategies for crypto firms.
No binding regulatory changes are introduced; this is an exploratory summary confirming industry support for proposed principles on technical standards (security, governance, compliance), audit methods (third-party, self-certification), and regulatory avenues (preference for voluntary certification over mandatory). Respondents endorsed alignment with industry best practices, risk-based approaches, and proportionality, with calls for technologically neutral standards and continuous monitoring models.
Urgency: Medium – This is not enforceable yet but previews potential mandatory certification in EU DeFi regulation, critical for firms scaling smart contract use to mitigate user risks and build trust; proactive alignment now avoids future retrofits, especially with MiCA's crypto focus.
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original AMF source before acting. Full disclaimer.
Crypto-assets Innovation The ACPR and the AMF publish the findings from the Working Group on Smart Contract Certification, and launch a Public Consultation
The ACPR and AMF have published findings from their 2024 Working Group on Smart Contract Certification in DeFi, launching a public consultation on February 3, 2025, to explore certification frameworks for smart contracts, focusing on standards, audits, and regulatory options. This matters as it signals proactive French regulatory preparation for potential EU-level DeFi rules under MiCA, aiming to enhance security, governance, and compliance without immediate mandates, while industry feedback favors voluntary schemes.
Urgency: Medium. This is non-binding exploratory work with consultation closed, but it foreshadows potential mandatory smart contract certification in DeFi, aligning with MiCA's risk mitigation goals. Firms face low short-term risk but high long-term impact if voluntary standards evolve into obligations, especially amid DASP phase-out by July 2026 and EU harmonization needs; proactive adoption builds MiCA compliance edge.
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original AMF source before acting. Full disclaimer.
MiCA Crypto-assets Innovation Markets in crypto-assets: publication of the MiCA regulation
Why this matters
This regulatory update on the publication of the MiCA regulation is highly relevant for firms operating in the crypto-assets and digital assets space, as well as capital markets and payments firms that interact with crypto-assets.
Crypto-assets Innovation Fintech Journalists The AMF publishes a discussion paper on Decentralised Finance (DeFi)
The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), France's financial markets regulator, published a discussion paper on June 19, 2023, outlining preliminary thoughts on regulatory challenges posed by Decentralised Finance (DeFi) activities on crypto-assets, inviting stakeholder feedback by September 30, 2023. A summary of responses was released on July 10, 2024, highlighting key themes like defining DeFi, distinguishing protocol types, and applying a "same activity, same risk, same regulation" principle. This matters for compliance professionals as it signals AMF's intent to develop proportionate DeFi oversight, balancing innovation with investor protection, AML/CTF risks, and market integrity amid evolving EU frameworks like MiCA.
Urgency: Medium – This is non-binding consultation feedback without hard deadlines or rules, but it previews AMF's regulatory trajectory toward DeFi oversight, including AML/CTF enforcement and investor safeguards, amid MiCA rollout. It matters because DeFi's growth amplifies risks like pseudonymity-driven financial crime and market abuse, potentially triggering enforcement of existing laws; firms risk non-compliance if unprepared for "same risk, same regulation" application, especially with AMF's international push.
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original AMF source before acting. Full disclaimer.
Innovation The AMF publishes its proposals for an open finance framework
The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), France's financial markets authority, has published proposals for an **open finance framework** via a public consultation, extending open banking principles to broader financial data sharing for enhanced innovation and competition. This matters for compliance professionals as it signals upcoming regulatory requirements for secure data access, APIs, and customer consent mechanisms, aligning with EU trends toward open finance while prioritizing consumer protection and market resilience. Firms must engage early to shape the final rules and prepare systems for compliance.
Urgency: High – As a consultation, immediate engagement is critical to shape rules, but full implementation may not hit until 2027+. It matters due to alignment with AMF's 2026 priorities on innovation (AI, tokenization, MiCA) and resilience (DORA, cybersecurity), risking fines or supervisory actions for non-prepared firms amid EU harmonization push. Early movers gain competitive edge in data-driven services.
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original AMF source before acting. Full disclaimer.