Coinhouse MiCA Authorization Opens EU Markets for French Crypto Firm

Coinhouse has secured MiCA authorization from France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers, granting the Paris-based platform the right to offer regulated crypto services across all European Union member states. The approval covers brokerage, custody, transfer, investment advisory, and portfolio management – a scope that positions Coinhouse ahead of the July 1, 2026 deadline when France’s domestic PSAN system expires. This authorization creates a structural advantage that will pressure every other French-registered crypto firm to either secure MiCA or lose access to the EU single market.

The Authorization and Its Scope

Coinhouse’s MiCA license replaces its previous PSAN registration, which operated under France’s domestic cryptocurrency framework. The new authorization is broader. It provides a stronger legal foundation for cross-border activity.

Services Covered

The AMF approval explicitly permits:

Purchasing and selling digital assets
Exchange operations
Safekeeping and administrative functions
Digital asset transfers
Investment consultation and portfolio management

This suite of services means Coinhouse can act as a full-service crypto broker and custodian across all 27 EU member states without needing individual national registrations. The passporting mechanism is the core advantage: one authorization, 27 markets.

From La Maison du Bitcoin to Pan-European Platform

Coinhouse launched in 2014 as La Maison du Bitcoin and became one of France’s first registered Digital Asset Service Providers. The MiCA upgrade elevates the company from domestic registration to EU-wide authorization – a shift that changes its competitive positioning fundamentally.

Why the July 2026 Deadline Matters

France plans to discontinue its domestic PSAN system on July 1, 2026. After that date, any crypto service provider serving French customers must hold a PSCA authorization (the French implementation of MiCA). The AMF has warned that unauthorized providers must cease operations and may face legal consequences and monetary penalties.

The Two-Tier Market

Coinhouse now operates in a different regulatory tier than its PSAN-only peers. Other French platforms scramble to apply for MiCA. Coinhouse can already market its services to retail customers, corporate entities, and institutional investors across Europe. The company currently serves French-speaking markets including Belgium and Luxembourg. The new authorization unlocks the entire EU.

The Risk for Rivals Without MiCA

For every other French crypto firm still holding a PSAN registration, the clock is ticking. The AMF has explicitly stated that unauthorized providers must cease operations after the transition deadline.

Exposure and Timeline

Exposure: Any French-registered crypto platform that has not secured MiCA authorization by July 2026 loses the ability to serve French customers legally.

Timeline: Less than two years remain. The application process itself can take months. The AMF may face a backlog as the deadline approaches.

What reduces the risk: Early application and approval. Firms that begin the MiCA process now can avoid the last-minute scramble.

What makes it worse: Delays in the AMF’s review process. Failure to meet capital or governance requirements. A sudden surge in applications that strains the regulator.

Competitive Consequences

Coinhouse’s early authorization gives it a marketing and trust advantage. Institutional investors and corporate clients who require regulated counterparties will gravitate toward platforms with MiCA approval. PSAN-only firms will face an uphill battle to retain clients who value regulatory certainty.

What Confirms or Weakens the Thesis

The thesis that Coinhouse has a durable competitive edge rests on two assumptions: that the AMF will enforce the July 2026 deadline strictly, and that other firms will not catch up quickly.

Confirming Signals

Other major French PSAN holders announce MiCA applications within the next six months.

The AMF publishes a clear timeline and processing standards, reducing uncertainty for applicants.

Coinhouse reports increased client onboarding from new EU markets.

Weakening Signals

The AMF extends the PSAN deadline or introduces a grace period, reducing the urgency.

A rival platform secures MiCA authorization with a broader service scope or lower fees, neutralizing Coinhouse’s first-mover advantage.

European-level delays in MiCA implementation create a fragmented transition period.

For now, Coinhouse holds a clear regulatory lead. The question is whether that lead translates into market share before the deadline forces the rest of the industry to catch up.

For a broader view of how regulatory shifts affect crypto markets, see our crypto market analysis. Traders evaluating platform risk should also review our guide to the best crypto brokers for compliance standards.