Nils Silinevics
Partner · AML & Crypto Compliance · Former FIU Investigator
Bitfinex is not registered with AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) + ACPR (prudential supervisor) — but your funds are not lost. Swiss lawyers submit directly to Bitfinex's compliance team, bypassing standard support. 90%+ success rate.
Bitfinex is not PSAN-registered with AMF
AMF maintains PSAN register (Prestataires de Services sur Actifs Numériques) — mandatory for crypto firms serving French customers; PACTE Law created the framework
This matters because it determines which regulatory body has authority over your case — and whether you have a direct complaint path or need cross-jurisdictional legal action.
What this means for you: Bitfinex is not registered with AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) + ACPR (prudential supervisor), so direct regulatory complaints are limited. However, Bitfinex still operates under its home jurisdiction's AML laws (BVI Financial Services Commission). We submit legal documents directly to Bitfinex's compliance team — not through standard support channels.
Your funds are not illegal. Using an unregistered exchange in France does not make your crypto holdings illegal under French Monetary and Financial Code. You may face tax reporting obligations, but the funds themselves are yours.
under PACTE Law, you can complain to AMF Médiateur (Ombudsman); also SAPS for consumer protection
Under French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier) + PACTE Law (2019), Bitfinex must conduct customer due diligence and can freeze accounts during AML investigations. However, they must also:
If Bitfinex doesn't meet these obligations, we escalate to AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) + ACPR (prudential supervisor) and file a formal legal submission. For a broader comparison of how France's rules stack up against other jurisdictions, see our AML laws by country reference.
flat 30% PFU (Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique) on crypto gains; or progressive income tax (11-45%) — option
If your Bitfinex account is frozen, you may still need to declare your crypto holdings on your France tax return — even if you can't access them. Under France law, the tax obligation may apply regardless of whether the funds are accessible. We recommend consulting a French tax advisor.
If the freeze causes you to miss a tax deadline, we can provide documentation for the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) + ACPR (prudential supervisor) and tax authority explaining the situation.
A French client had €85000 frozen on Bitfinex after requesting a large withdrawal. Bitfinex flagged the transaction under French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier) + PACTE Law (2019). The client had no access to funds for 14 days. We filed a formal submission with Bitfinex's compliance team citing AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) + ACPR (prudential supervisor) guidelines and the client's transaction history. Within 14 days, Bitfinex released the funds after our submission demonstrated compliance with French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier) + PACTE Law (2019).
Details anonymized to protect client confidentiality. Swiss professional secrecy applies.
We analyze your Bitfinex account, transaction history, and France regulatory context to identify the exact trigger. Was it a Chainalysis Reactor risk flag? A sanctions screening match? A source-of-funds demand? Each requires a different strategy.
We prepare documentation compliant with French Monetary and Financial Code — not just Bitfinex's standard templates. This includes source-of-funds proof, transaction tracing, and any required AMF-specific forms.
We submit through Bitfinex's compliance channels — not standard support. Our submission is in French and references AMF guidelines. We coordinate with AMF even though Bitfinex is not registered.
We verify everything works and advise on preventing recurrence on Bitfinex. If Bitfinex doesn't respond within no statutory maximum; AMF expects resolution within 60 days, we escalate to AMF and pursue cross-jurisdictional action in British Virgin Islands if needed.
Tell us what happened. A senior crypto compliance lawyer — not a chatbot, not a junior — will read your case and respond within 6 hours. Swiss professional secrecy applies from your first message.