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Mayotte

Retail_Trading_Status

Allowed-Regulated Unknown
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2025-06-26 13:11
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Executive Summary

Retail cryptocurrency trading is legally permitted in Mayotte but is subject to a comprehensive regulatory framework mirroring that of mainland France and influenced by EU regulations. Key regulators include the AMF and ACPR, emphasizing investor protection and AML/CFT measures. The PACTE law and MiCA regulation are significant pieces of legislation shaping the regulatory landscape, requiring registration and licensing for CASPs/PSANs.

Key Pillars

  • Primary Regulator: The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) and the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) oversee crypto activities, focusing on investor protection, market integrity, and preventing illicit activities.
  • Core Compliance Requirements: Strict KYC/AML obligations are imposed on CASPs, aligned with EU AML Directives and FATF recommendations. They must verify customer identities and monitor transactions for suspicious activity.
  • Licensing/Registration: Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs/PSANs) must register with the AMF, meeting specific AML/CFT requirements. A more stringent, optional license is also available.

Landmark Laws

  • PACTE Law (Plan d'Action pour la Croissance et la Transformation des Entreprises): Enacted in 2019, this French law shapes the regulatory framework for crypto-assets in Mayotte.
  • Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation: EU regulation aiming to create a harmonized framework for crypto-assets across the EU. Provisions for stablecoins took effect in June 2024, with broader regulations applicable from December 30, 2024. It introduces authorization requirements, prudential safeguards, and investor protection measures for CASPs.

Considerations

  • Legal Classification: Crypto-assets are not legal tender.
  • Taxation: Gains from cryptocurrency trading are subject to taxation in France and Mayotte, typically under a flat tax (Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique - PFU), with an option for progressive income tax. Declaration of foreign crypto exchange accounts is required.
  • Risks and Concerns: Regulatory authorities like the AMF and IEDOM frequently warn the public about the volatility and risk of capital loss associated with crypto-assets, as well as the prevalence of scams.

Notes

  • IEDOM Warning (January 2024): Urged Mayotte residents to exercise caution when dealing with crypto-assets and to verify that intermediaries are authorized by the AMF.
  • MiCA Transition: PSANs registered under the French regime have a transition period to comply with MiCA regulations.
  • Reinforced Registration: The French Parliament implemented a mandatory 'reinforced' registration for the provision of digital asset services in France, starting January 1, 2024.
  • Source Accessibility: Several URL links to sources are provided, enhancing transparency and allowing for verification of information.

Detailed Explanation

Mayotte, as a region of France, adheres to French national law and EU regulations, making retail cryptocurrency trading legally permissible but regulated. The regulatory framework is primarily influenced by French laws, including the PACTE law of 2019, and the EU's MiCA regulation. The AMF and ACPR are the key regulators, emphasizing investor protection, market integrity, and the prevention of illicit activities.

CASPs/PSANs must register with the AMF, meeting AML/CFT requirements. A more stringent license is also available. The EU's MiCA regulation, progressively coming into effect, aims to harmonize crypto-asset regulations across the EU. Stablecoin provisions began in June 2024, with broader regulations set for December 30, 2024. PSANs have a transition period to comply with MiCA.

KYC/AML requirements are strict, aligning with EU AML Directives and FATF recommendations. The AMF and IEDOM issue public warnings about the risks of crypto investments, highlighting volatility, capital loss, and scams. Crypto-assets are not legal tender. Gains from crypto trading are taxable in France and Mayotte, generally under a flat tax (PFU), with an option for progressive income tax and requirements to declare foreign crypto exchange accounts.

The IEDOM issued a warning in January 2024, urging Mayotte residents to exercise caution and verify AMF authorization of intermediaries. The French Parliament implemented a 'reinforced' registration for digital asset services in France, effective January 1, 2024. The Banque Delubac & Cie noted that MiCA, in force since December 30, 2024, harmonizes crypto-asset regulation within the EU, aiming to protect investors and strengthen market confidence. The Cour des comptes stated that MiCA is inspired by the French model, redefining crypto-assets and allowing providers approved by a Member State to provide services across the European market.

Summary Points

Okay, here's the regulatory analysis report on Retail_Trading_Status in Mayotte, converted into a clear, well-structured bullet point format:

Retail Cryptocurrency Trading in Mayotte: Regulatory Status (June 26, 2025)

I. General Regulatory Status:

  • Allowed-Regulated: Retail cryptocurrency trading (buying, selling, and holding) is legally permitted in Mayotte.
  • Subject to French and EU Law: As an overseas department and region of France, Mayotte is subject to French national law and European Union regulations.

II. Key Regulatory Bodies & Their Roles:

III. Key Legislation & Regulations:

IV. Requirements for Compliance:

V. Notable Restrictions or Limitations:

VI. Recent Developments or Changes:

  • MiCA Implementation: The EU's MiCA regulation is being progressively implemented.
    • Stablecoin provisions applied from June 30, 2024.
    • Broader regulations apply from December 30, 2024.
  • Reinforced Registration: French Parliament has provided for a mandatory "reinforced" registration for the provision of digital asset services in France, from January 1, 2024.

VII. Additional Notes:

Disclaimer: This report is based on information available up to the specified date and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Individuals should consult with qualified professionals for advice tailored to their specific circumstances.

Full Analysis Report

Report on the Current Status of Retail Cryptocurrency Trading in Mayotte

Date: 2025-06-26

Topic: Retail_Trading_Status

Description: Assess whether individual citizens and residents in the country are legally permitted to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies. Detail the regulatory environment surrounding this activity (e.g., KYC/AML requirements imposed on platforms, general warnings issued).

1. Identified Current Status:

Allowed-Regulated

2. Detailed Narrative Explanation:

Mayotte, as an overseas department and region of France, is subject to French national law and, by extension, European Union regulations. Therefore, the legal status of retail cryptocurrency trading in Mayotte mirrors that of mainland France.

Retail cryptocurrency trading (buying, selling, and holding) is legally permitted in Mayotte but is subject to a comprehensive regulatory framework. This framework is primarily shaped by French laws, such as the PACTE law (Plan d'Action pour la Croissance et la Transformation des Entreprises) of 2019, and increasingly by overarching EU regulations, most notably the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

The French regulatory landscape for crypto-assets has been in development for several years. The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), France's financial markets regulator, and the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR), the banking and insurance supervisor, are the key authorities overseeing these activities. They emphasize investor protection, market integrity, and the prevention of illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing.

Key aspects of the regulatory environment include:

  • Registration and Licensing of Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs/PSANs): Entities offering services related to cryptocurrencies, such as exchanges or custodians, must register with the AMF as Prestataires de Services sur Actifs Numériques (PSANs – Digital Asset Service Providers). This registration involves meeting certain requirements, including those related to Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT). An optional, more stringent, license is also available.
  • EU's MiCA Regulation: The MiCA regulation, which has been progressively coming into effect, aims to create a harmonized framework for crypto-assets across the EU. It introduces comprehensive rules for CASPs, including authorization requirements, prudential safeguards, investor protection measures, and rules on market abuse. MiCA's provisions for stablecoins began applying in June 2024, with the broader regulations for other crypto-assets and services set to apply from December 30, 2024. PSANs registered under the French regime have a transition period to comply with MiCA.
  • Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements: CASPs operating in Mayotte (as in France) are subject to strict KYC/AML obligations. This means they must verify the identity of their customers and monitor transactions to detect and report suspicious activities. These requirements are aligned with EU AML Directives and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.
  • Investor Warnings: Regulatory authorities, including the AMF and the IEDOM (Institut d'émission des départements d'Outre-Mer), which acts as the local branch of the Banque de France in Mayotte, frequently issue warnings to the public about the risks associated with investing in crypto-assets. These warnings highlight the volatility of cryptocurrencies, the risk of capital loss, and the prevalence of scams. They also emphasize that crypto-assets are not legal tender.
  • Taxation: Gains from cryptocurrency trading are subject to taxation in France, and therefore in Mayotte. The tax regime has evolved, and individuals are generally subject to a flat tax (Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique - PFU) on their crypto gains, with an option to be taxed under the progressive income tax scale if it's more favorable. There are also requirements to declare accounts held on foreign crypto exchanges.

While trading is allowed and regulated, the authorities maintain a cautious stance, emphasizing the speculative nature of crypto-assets and the need for robust consumer protection. The transition to the full implementation of MiCA is expected to further solidify the regulatory environment and provide greater clarity and security for market participants.

3. Specific, Relevant Text Excerpts:

  • IEDOM (Institut d'émission des départements d'Outre-Mer) warning for Mayotte residents (January 2024): "Si vous êtes détenteur de crypto-actifs ou si vous envisagez d'en acquérir, l'Institut d'émission des départements d'Outre-Mer (IEDOM) vous invite à la plus grande vigilance... Assurez-vous que l'intermédiaire qui propose des produits ou services sur actifs numériques est autorisé à le faire. Pour cela, consultez la liste des prestataires de services sur actifs numériques habilités par l'Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF Liste blanche des PSAN). Ne répondez pas aux sollicitations des entreprises ne figurant pas sur cette liste. Celles-ci sont en infraction avec la législation applicable."
    Translation: "If you hold crypto-assets or are considering acquiring them, the Overseas Departments Issuing Institute (IEDOM) urges you to exercise utmost caution... Ensure that the intermediary offering products or services related to digital assets is authorized to do so. To do this, consult the list of digital asset service providers approved by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF White List of PSANs). Do not respond to solicitations from companies not on this list. These are in breach of the applicable legislation."

  • Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on PSANs (Digital Asset Service Providers): "Pour pouvoir vous proposer de les conserver, d'acheter ou vendre des crypto-monnaies contre des monnaies ayant cours légal, d'échanger des crypto-actifs contre d'autres crypto-actifs, ou encore pour exploiter une plateforme de négociation d'actifs numériques, votre intermédiaire doit obligatoirement être enregistré auprès de l'AMF. Vous pouvez consulter la liste blanche des prestataires de services sur actifs numériques (PSAN) autorisés à proposer ces services."
    Translation: "To be able to offer to hold them for you, to buy or sell cryptocurrencies against legal tender currencies, to exchange crypto-assets for other crypto-assets, or to operate a digital asset trading platform, your intermediary must be registered with the AMF. You can consult the white list of digital asset service providers (PSANs) authorized to offer these services."

  • Ministère de l'Économie des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique on MiCA Regulation (referring to applicability in France): "Le règlement européen sur les marchés de crypto-actifs (Markets in Crypto-Assets, ou MiCA) a été publié au Journal officiel de l'Union européenne le 9 juin 2023. Il sera applicable à partir du 30 décembre 2024, à l'exception des dispositions sur les stablecoins qui sont entrées en application dès le 30 juin 2024."
    Translation: "The European regulation on markets in crypto-assets (Markets in Crypto-Assets, or MiCA) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on June 9, 2023. It will be applicable from December 30, 2024, with the exception of the provisions on stablecoins which came into application from June 30, 2024."

  • Cour des comptes on MiCA and French Regulation (December 2023): "Le règlement européen MiCA (markets in crypto-assets) s'inspire très directement du modèle français et le prolonge. Il redéfinit la notion de crypto-actifs et permet aux prestataires agréés par un État membre de fournir des services dans l'ensemble du marché européen. Souhaitant renforcer l'encadrement des prestataires, le Parlement français a prévu la mise en œuvre d'un enregistrement « renforcé » obligatoire pour la fourniture de services sur actifs numériques en France, dès le 1er janvier 2024."
    Translation: "The European MiCA regulation (markets in crypto-assets) is very directly inspired by the French model and extends it. It redefines the notion of crypto-assets and allows providers approved by a Member State to provide services throughout the European market. Wishing to strengthen the supervision of providers, the French Parliament has provided for the implementation of a mandatory 'reinforced' registration for the provision of digital asset services in France, from January 1, 2024."

  • Banque Delubac & Cie on MiCA's entry into force (May 2025): "Le règlement européen MiCA, en vigueur depuis le 30 décembre 2024, harmonise la régulation des cryptoactifs... au sein de l'Union européenne. Il vise notamment à créer un cadre juridique solide pour protéger les investisseurs et renforcer la confiance envers les acteurs du marché."
    Translation: "The European MiCA regulation, in force since December 30, 2024, harmonizes the regulation of crypto-assets... within the European Union. It notably aims to create a solid legal framework to protect investors and strengthen confidence in market players."

4. Direct, Accessible URL Links to Sources:

Disclaimer: This report is based on information available up to the specified date and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Individuals should consult with qualified professionals for advice tailored to their specific circumstances.

Web Sources (21)

Sources discovered via web search grounding

Search queries used (7)
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  • statut légal trading cryptomonnaies particuliers Mayotte
  • Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) France cryptomonnaies Mayotte
  • réglementation MiCA Mayotte
  • retail crypto trading legal status Mayotte
  • KYC AML crypto Mayotte
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