France Speeds Up DAC8 Rollout for Crypto

France has just taken a decisive—and highly significant—step in the tax surveillance of crypto assets. In late July 2026, a new bill was presented to the Council of Ministers. The legislation would allow Paris to ratify the CARF, the OECD’s global standard for crypto assets. As a result, your crypto transactions could soon become visible to 48 countries.

Crypto: What the CARF Bill Will Change

On July 27, 2026, the French government presented a bill authorising the ratification of the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF). Developed by the OECD, this standard organises the automatic exchange of crypto-related tax data between countries worldwide.

CARF will therefore complement the European DAC8 directive. France has already transposed DAC8 through Article 54 of the 2025 Finance Act, with the rules applying since January 1, 2026.

In practice, crypto exchanges already collect the full identities of their users, including:

• Name;
• Address;
• Date of birth;
• Tax identification number.

They also record the value of crypto portfolios and transaction details.

Until now, this information has mainly circulated between European tax authorities. CARF will expand the system far beyond the European Union.

The timeline is clear:

• The first data exchanges will begin in 2027 among 47 to 48 participating jurisdictions.
• A second group of 28 countries will follow in 2028.

Of the 76 members of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, nearly all major economies will participate. The United States remains a notable exception and has only announced implementation from 2029.

How Will France Share Your Crypto Data With 48 Countries?

This framework changes the situation for anyone holding crypto while residing in France. If you use a platform established in Germany or Malta, the local tax authority will transmit your information to France’s Directorate General of Public Finances, or DGFiP. CARF will extend this mechanism to non-European jurisdictions.

The information transmitted will remain similar to the data already collected under DAC8:

• Identity;
• Crypto portfolio balance as of December 31;
• Total value of purchases and sales.

The framework covers a broad range of crypto assets, including decentralised tokens, stablecoins, certain NFTs and assets falling within the scope of the MiCA regulation. Only central bank digital currencies are excluded.

The first actual exchange of data must occur by September 30, 2027, covering transactions conducted in 2026. In other words, every crypto transaction made this year could potentially become visible to a foreign tax authority next year.

For the French government, the objective is clear: strengthening the fight against crypto-related tax fraud.

A Move Already Worrying Parts of the Crypto Industry

Several industry players have asked France’s Council of State to overturn the decree transposing DAC8 into French law. Bitcoin platform Bull Bitcoin is among them.

Their argument is straightforward: creating a database linking legal identities to crypto activity could expose users to significant risks.

Recent events in France have added weight to those concerns. The country has recorded 41 crypto-related kidnappings since the beginning of 2026. These follow 19 confirmed “wrench attacks” in 2025—the highest number in Europe. According to CertiK, such physical attacks increased by 75% worldwide in 2025.

For holders of Bitcoin, Ethereum and other digital assets, the concern involves physical security as much as tax confidentiality.

In response, the French government points to several safeguards:

• Official identification services;
• Secure data exchanges between tax authorities.

The bill must still be examined by Parliament before France can definitively ratify CARF.

Between the fight against tax fraud and concerns over privacy, this legislation highlights the growing tensions surrounding crypto taxation. Other European countries are nevertheless likely to follow a similar regulatory path in the coming months. A story worth watching closely.