Wallis and Futuna

**Report on the Current Status of Retail Cryptocurrency Trading in Wallis and Futuna**

**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).

**Retail_Trading_Status**

**Status:** Allowed-Regulated

**Narrative Explanation:**

Wallis and Futuna, as a French overseas collectivity, operates under the French legal and regulatory framework for most financial matters. Therefore, the status of retail cryptocurrency trading in Wallis and Futuna is primarily determined by French regulations.

France has established a regulatory framework for Digital Asset Service Providers (DASPs), overseen by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) and the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR). These regulations include mandatory registration for DASPs offering services such as exchanging crypto-assets for legal tender, exchanging crypto-assets for other crypto-assets, and crypto-asset custody. The regulatory framework also imposes strict Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) obligations on these providers.

While there is no specific legislation originating directly from Wallis and Futuna that explicitly addresses cryptocurrency trading for individuals, French laws and regulations, including those pertaining to digital assets, are generally applicable. The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is also expected to further harmonize the regulatory landscape for crypto-assets across EU member states, including France, and by extension, its territories.

The presence of international cryptocurrency exchanges and brokers offering services to residents of Wallis and Futuna, often highlighting compliance with AML/KYC standards, further suggests that retail trading is permitted within this regulated environment. For instance, some platforms explicitly list Wallis and Futuna as a serviced jurisdiction, while others may restrict services based on broader French or European regulations. The launch of services by a Web3 neobank, Deblock, in Wallis and Futuna, which combines traditional banking with crypto wallet services and is compliant with French and European financial regulations, also points to the allowed and regulated nature of crypto activities.

It is important for individuals in Wallis and Futuna engaging in cryptocurrency trading to use platforms that are compliant with French and EU regulations, particularly concerning KYC/AML requirements, to ensure they are operating within the legal framework.

**Relevant Text Excerpts and Sources:**

*   **General Applicability of French Law:** "The legal landscape in Wallis and Futuna for fintech is largely influenced by French regulations, given its status as a French overseas territory."
    *   **Source:** Lawzana, "The 10 best Fintech Lawyers in Wallis and Futuna (2025)"
    *   **URL:** https://www.lawzana.com/wf/wallis-and-futuna/fintech-lawyers

*   **French Regulatory Authorities:** "In France, the registration and regulation of PSANs [Digital Asset Service Providers] is overseen by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) and the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR)."
    *   **Source:** Banque Delubac & Cie, "FAQ Crypto - What does PSAN stand for?"
    *   **URL:** https://www.delubac.com/faq-crypto-psan/

*   **Services Requiring DASP Registration in France:** "Article L. 54-10-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (MFC) provides that an applicant who wishes to provide the following services in France: custody of digital assets or access to digital assets on behalf of third parties;; purchase or sale of digital assets in legal tender;; exchanging digital assets for other digital assets; or; managing a trading platform for digital asset,;. must (i) register with the AMF as a digital asset service provider (Prestataire sur actifs numériques) (PSAN) and is subject to articles L. 54-10-1 and D. 54-10-2 et seq. of the MFC and (ii) comply with the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/FT) obligations..."
    *   **Source:** CMS Law, "CMS Expert Guide to Crypto Regulation in France"
    *   **URL:** https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-crypto-regulation/france

*   **Availability of Crypto Services:** "La néo-banque Web3 Deblock lance ses services en Polynésie, Nouvelle Calédonie et Wallis et Futuna... Deblock est un établissement français, et à ce titre l’entreprise s’est conformée à l’ensemble des règles nationales et européennes en matière financière et bancaire avant même son lancement." (Translation: The Web3 neobank Deblock is launching its services in Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna... Deblock is a French establishment, and as such the company has complied with all national and European financial and banking rules even before its launch.)
    *   **Source:** Tahiti Cryptomonnaies, "La néo-banque Web3 Deblock lance ses services en Polynésie, Nouvelle Calédonie et Wallis et Futuna"
    *   **URL:** https://www.tahiti-cryptomonnaies.com/post/la-n%C3%A9o-banque-web3-deblock-lance-ses-services-en-polyn%C3%A9sie-nouvelle-cal%C3%A9donie-et-wallis-et-futuna

*   **Applicability of Banking Legislation:** "La législation bancaire applicable dans les COM du Pacifique relève de la compétence de l'État." (Translation: Banking legislation applicable in the Pacific Overseas Collectivities falls under the competence of the State.) This report further details that credit institutions are approved by the ACPR.
    *   **Source:** IEOM (Institut d'Émission d'Outre-Mer), "Rapport annuel économique 2022 - Wallis-et-Futuna", Page 115
    *   **URL:** https://www.ieom.fr/wallis-et-futuna/publications/rapports-annuels-economiques/rapport-annuel-economique-2022-wallis-et-futuna.html (The specific PDF page can be accessed through the main report link, typically found in the publications section of the IEOM website for Wallis and Futuna).

*   **BrokerChooser Assessment:** "Interactive Brokers is the best crypto broker in Wallis and Futuna in 2025... Key criteria determining a broker's trustworthiness are: regulation, availability of investor protection, as well as a long and spotless track record." This indicates that regulated brokers are considered accessible.
    *   **Source:** BrokerChooser, "Best crypto brokers in Wallis and Futuna in 2025"
    *   **URL:** https://www.brokerchooser.com/find-my-broker/crypto-broker/best-crypto-brokers-in-wallis-and-futuna

*   **Invezz Guide on Buying Bitcoin:** "To trade cryptocurrency effectively in Wallis and Futuna, select exchanges offering competitive trading volume, clear fee structures, strong regulatory licenses, and robust AML compliance."
    *   **Source:** Invezz, "7 Best Exchanges to Buy Bitcoin in Wallis and Futuna 2025"
    *   **URL:** https://invezz.com/guides/best-exchanges-to-buy-bitcoin-in-wallis-and-futuna/