The international cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has announced the total suspension of its services for French residents by March 31, 2026. This withdrawal follows warnings from the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), France's financial markets regulator, emphasizing that offering digital asset services in France strictly requires valid regulatory status with the AMF.
The cessation of Bitget’s services serves as a reminder that compliance is not a mere formality, but a vital protection for users.
To operate legally in France, a platform must obtain PSAN registration (Prestataire de Services sur Actifs Numériques or Digital Asset Service Provider). Despite its significant global volume and activity, Bitget has never appeared on the AMF’s "white list." In the absence of this status, the platform was operating illegally under French law. This situation sends a clear signal to the market: authorities will no longer tolerate players who bypass local regulations.
This closure imposes a very strict withdrawal schedule. After March 31, 2026, client funds held on the platform will be frozen, and several automatic measures will be triggered:
Entrusting your assets to an unlicensed provider presents three major risks:
PSAN and MiCA regulations set the rules for crypto service providers. This framework guarantees:
This is the most critical point, though often invisible. A regulated platform, such as those with PSAN registration, is obligated to segregate funds to guarantee their integrity.
This means that client money is never mixed with the company's operating funds. If the platform encounters financial difficulties, the assets in your wallet remain isolated and protected. With unregulated third parties, verification is impossible: it is difficult to know if your Bitcoins are actually there or if they are being used by the platform for its own trading operations.
A European pioneer and the oldest Bitcoin/Euro exchange still in operation globally, Paymium has supported over 230,000 clients since its inception in 2011. Throughout its 15-year history, the platform has navigated all market cycles while maintaining the standards of transparency and security that define its identity:
Create a Paymium account here.
To avoid last-minute complications, do not wait until the March 31, 2026 deadline to move your funds. The first step is to open an account on Paymium to generate a new deposit address.
See section: How to create a personal account on Paymium?
Before moving your entire capital, always perform a test transfer with a small amount. This precaution allows you to verify network compatibility (such as ERC-20 for Ethereum) and ensures your assets arrive safely.
Finally, take this opportunity to download your entire transaction history: these files are essential for justifying the origin of your funds and ensuring accurate future tax declarations.
The announcement of a platform's closure often raises many technical and administrative questions. Unlike other platforms that often automate their assistance, Paymium provides human, French-speaking customer support.
Based in Paris, our experts will assist you throughout your migration to help you get started with your new services (How to open a support ticket?).
Whether you need to verify asset compatibility or help generating new receiving addresses, our team is here to ensure your transfer takes place under the best possible conditions. This proximity allows you to manage your assets with ease, without the barrier of language or additional delays.
Many investors underestimate the risk of entrusting their funds to an intermediary that does not comply with French legislation. However, as soon as the regulatory framework tightens, it results in immediate service interruption and loss of access to holdings. In this context, choosing a platform registered in France is the logical choice to secure your investments.
What happens to my funds if I miss the deadline?
After March 31, 2026, you will lose control over your assets. They will be transferred to a third-party platform that you did not choose. Recovery will then be much more complex, slow, and subject to external management fees. We strongly recommend initiating the transfer before this date.
Is it possible to transfer my cryptos directly to Paymium?
Yes, provided the asset is supported by our platform (see the list). Simply generate a deposit address on your Paymium account for each corresponding crypto (such as Bitcoin or Ethereum). If Paymium does not yet offer the asset you hold on Bitget, a direct transfer will not be possible; you will need to convert your funds into a supported asset before sending.
What should I do if I have open Futures or Margin positions?
All such positions must be closed manually before March 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM. After this time, the platform will proceed with an automatic liquidation at market price, which could be unfavorable depending on market volatility at that exact moment.
Why choose a PSAN platform over another international platform?
The PSAN status granted by the AMF guarantees that the platform meets strict standards for security, fraud prevention, and fund protection (segregation). In the event of a dispute, you benefit from the protection of French law, which is impossible with entities based outside the European Union.
How do I retrieve my tax reports?
You must retrieve your data directly from your Bitget client area via the history export options (usually in CSV format). It is imperative to do this before the suspension of services: once account access is restricted, obtaining these records will depend entirely on their customer support availability, which can be highly uncertain.
Will my cryptocurrencies be taxed during the transfer to Paymium?
No, a simple transfer of assets between two wallets (from Bitget to Paymium) is not a taxable event. As long as you do not convert your cryptos into "fiat" currency (Euros or Dollars), no capital gain is realized. This is the ideal time to secure your holdings without triggering taxes.
What if I hold obscure cryptos on Bitget?
Not all platforms have the same asset catalog. Before any transfer, check if the crypto is listed on Paymium. If not, you will likely need to convert these cryptos into a supported unit (like Bitcoin or Ethereum) before sending, or withdraw them to a personal wallet.
Should I close my Bitget account myself after the transfer?
Once your cryptos are received on Paymium and your tax reports are safely saved, it is best to close your Bitget account yourself. This is a simple security measure that avoids leaving your personal data (identity, verification documents) on a platform you no longer use and which is no longer subject to French regulators.
