Bull Bitcoin Secures MiCA License in France, Keeps Self-Custody Model
Bull Bitcoin Secures MiCA License in France – EU Users Retain Full Self-Custody and Privacy Features
Key Takeaways
- Bull Bitcoin has obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation license in France.
- The license allows the company to continue offering its Bitcoin exchange and payment services across EU member states.
- According to the company, all existing self-custody and privacy features remain unchanged.
- Bull Bitcoin passed PASSI and DORA cybersecurity audits without outsourcing its core infrastructure.
- The licensing process was self-financed and took nearly three years to complete.
MiCA License Secured in France After Multi-Year Compliance Process
Bull Bitcoin announced on June 23, 2026 that it has obtained a license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation in France. The authorization enables the company to continue providing its Bitcoin exchange and payment services to users in EU member states without interruption.
Founder Francis Pouliot described the license as the result of a nearly three-year effort to enter the European market. According to his public statement, the process was fully self-financed, and the company did not seek funding from external investors or lenders.
The approval comes at a time when EU crypto rules under MiCA are tightening. Around the same period, the European Securities and Markets Authority ordered unlicensed crypto firms to exit the EU market as the MiCA deadline arrived. Against this backdrop, securing a license provides regulatory clarity for companies seeking to operate legally within the bloc.
Self-Custody Model and Privacy Tools Remain Unchanged
According to Bull Bitcoin, the MiCA license was obtained without altering its core operating model. The company states that all website and wallet features will remain the same as they were during the first half of 2026, with no additional restrictions or functional changes for users.
Bull Bitcoin operates as a Bitcoin-only, non-custodial exchange. Users must provide their own wallet address before completing a purchase. Bitcoin is then sent directly to the user’s wallet rather than being held in custody by the company. This structure means the platform does not retain control over client funds.
The company has long positioned itself around a self-custody approach. In addition to standard exchange services, it offers Bitcoin bill payment services for expenses such as rent, utilities, and real estate transactions. It also supports Lightning Network, Liquid, and Payjoin, which are tools associated with transaction efficiency and privacy.
Pouliot stated that obtaining the license did not require the company to compromise on what he described as its cypherpunk approach to self-custody and privacy. However, the announcement did not detail how potential tensions between user privacy expectations and MiCA compliance requirements were resolved.
Cybersecurity Audits Completed Without Third-Party Infrastructure
As part of the licensing process, Bull Bitcoin reported passing the required PASSI and DORA cybersecurity audits. The company emphasized that it did so without outsourcing its core Bitcoin infrastructure to external hosted providers.
According to Pouliot, relying on third-party infrastructure would have been easier and less costly but would have reduced internal control over systems. Instead, the firm maintained in-house management of its core infrastructure throughout the compliance process.
For users, this detail relates directly to how a service manages operational risk and technical control. Infrastructure decisions can affect data handling, system resilience, and service continuity. In this case, Bull Bitcoin states that its internal systems remain intact following regulatory approval.
BULL Wallet and Exchange Integration Continue Under New Authorization
In October 2025, Bull Bitcoin launched the BULL Wallet, described as a global, open-source, privacy-focused mobile application available on iOS and Android. The wallet includes opt-in integration with the company’s exchange.
Features include support for Payjoin, compatibility with Lightning and Liquid, and a policy of no data collection or push notifications. According to the company, both the wallet and its integration with the exchange remain unchanged under the newly obtained MiCA license.
For users in the EU who rely on integrated wallet and exchange services, the continuation of these features means the user experience remains consistent despite the regulatory shift.
European Expansion and Regulatory Positioning
Bull Bitcoin was founded in 2013 in Montreal by Francis Pouliot. The company has expanded its team in France and developed services tailored to the eurozone. The newly secured authorization provides what the company describes as a long-term regulatory foothold in Europe.
Pouliot has previously referenced the firm’s experience navigating Canadian oversight. The MiCA approval aligns with the company’s stated approach of meeting regulatory obligations while maintaining its core operational model.
The broader regulatory environment in the EU has prompted some crypto providers to alter operations or withdraw from certain markets. In this context, obtaining a MiCA license allows Bull Bitcoin to continue offering services legally across member states under a harmonized framework.
Our Assessment
Bull Bitcoin’s MiCA license in France allows it to continue operating its Bitcoin-only, non-custodial exchange and payment services across the European Union. The company states that its self-custody model, privacy features, wallet integration, and in-house infrastructure remain unchanged following regulatory approval. The development positions Bull Bitcoin among the providers that have secured authorization under the EU’s new crypto framework while maintaining their existing service structure.
