France Accelerates Implementation of DAC8 for Cryptos

France has just taken a decisive (and incredibly important!) step in the tax oversight of crypto assets. At the end of July 2026, a new bill was presented to the Council of Ministers. This text aims to allow Paris to ratify the CARF, which is the OECD's global standard dedicated to crypto assets. Thus, your crypto transactions could soon be known to 48 countries.

In brief

• France wants to authorize two international tax agreements signed with 48 other states and territories.
• Crypto transactions made since January 2026 will contribute to the first exchanges planned for 2027.
• Identity, amounts, volumes, and the number of operations are among the information concerned.
• The CARF will extend the framework already established by DAC8 beyond the European Union.

Crypto: What the CARF Bill Changes

On July 27, 2026, the French government presented a bill aimed at authorizing the ratification of the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF). Designed by the OECD, this standard organizes the automatic exchange of tax data related to crypto assets between countries worldwide. It will therefore complement the European directive DAC8, which has already been transposed in France by Article 54 of the 2025 Finance Law and has been in effect since January 1, 2026.

In practice, crypto exchanges are already collecting the full identity of their users. This includes:

• name;
• address;
• date of birth;
• tax number.

They also record the value of crypto wallets as well as the details of transactions.

So far, this information has mainly circulated among European tax administrations. With the CARF, the scope widens significantly beyond the European Union.

The timeline is precise:

• The first data exchanges will begin in 2027 between 47 to 48 engaged jurisdictions.
• A second wave of 28 countries will follow in 2028.

Out of 76 members of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, nearly all major economies will participate (notably excluding the United States, which has announced implementation only starting in 2029).

How Will France Share Your Crypto Data with 48 Countries?

This mechanism changes the game for any crypto holder residing in France. If you use a platform established in Germany or Malta, the local tax authority will transmit your information to the DGFiP. With the CARF, this mechanism will also extend to non-European jurisdictions.

The transmitted data remains identical to that already collected via DAC8:

• Identity;
• crypto wallet balance as of December 31;
• total amount of acquisitions and disposals.

The crypto assets concerned cover a wide range: decentralized tokens, stablecoins, certain NFTs, as well as everything that falls under the MiCA regulation. Only central bank digital currencies are exempt from this framework.

The first real data exchange must occur no later than September 30, 2027, regarding operations from 2026. In other words, every crypto transaction made this year will potentially be visible to a foreign tax authority next year. For Bercy, the goal is clear: to strengthen the fight against tax fraud related to cryptocurrencies.

A Move That Already Concerns Part of the Crypto Ecosystem

Several actors have appealed to the Council of State to contest the French decree transposing DAC8. This is notably the case for the platform Bull Bitcoin. Their argument: the creation of a database linking legal identity and crypto activity would expose users to very real risks.

The French context indeed adds weight to this concern. The country has recorded 41 kidnappings related to crypto assets since the beginning of 2026. In addition, there were 19 so-called "English key" attacks confirmed in 2025. The highest figure in Europe! According to CertiK, this type of aggression surged by 75% worldwide in 2025.

For holders of bitcoin, Ethereum, or other digital assets, the fear pertains to both physical security and tax confidentiality.

In response to these criticisms, the executive emphasizes safeguards:

• official identification services;
• securing exchanges between administrations.

The bill still needs to be examined by Parliament before any definitive ratification of the CARF.

Between the fight against fraud and concerns for privacy, this bill illustrates the growing tension surrounding crypto taxation. Other European countries are expected to follow a similar regulatory trajectory in the coming months. A dossier to watch closely...