Global financial technology firm Circle, renowned for issuing stablecoins such as USDC and EURC, revealed in a press release on December 21st that it has received conditional registration as a Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF).
The announcement underscores the company’s commitment to France and the European Union, with the firm also disclosing the appointment of Coralie Billmann, a seasoned professional in the payments industry, to lead its licensed operations in the country. However, Billmann’s role is contingent upon regulatory approval.
To initiate operations in France, Circle must fulfill the conditions tied to its registration by obtaining approval as a payment services provider (PSP) or registration as an agent of a PSP. The company is currently in the process of obtaining an Electronic Money Institution license to satisfy this requirement.
Billmann brings a wealth of experience to her role at Circle, having played a pivotal role in launching the payments activity of 3S Money Club in Europe and serving in leadership positions at JP Morgan and PayPal. Her strong background in compliance and finance positions her to play a crucial role in ensuring MiCA readiness and passportability for Circle’s products and services.
Jeremy Allaire, Co-founder, CEO, and Chairman at Circle, emphasized the company’s commitment to a regulatory-first approach, citing the conditional DASP registration in France as a significant milestone. He praised Billmann’s expertise:
With Coralie Billmann joining Circle, her deep market expertise and leadership will be instrumental in furthering our regulatory efforts and deepening our connections in France.”
Circle’s Regulatory Vision
Circle aims to bring its European operations under comprehensive EU oversight by securing both a full DASP and Electronic Money Institution license. This aligns with the stringent standards the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) set and ensures compliance with the forthcoming Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime.
Dante Disparte, Circle’s Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global Policy highlighted the strategic selection of France as their European regulatory base, citing the country’s clear rules for responsible innovation in fintech and digital assets.
Meanwhile, Coinbase, a major player in the crypto space, has also secured authorization from the AMF as a Virtual Assets Service Provider (VASP). This move positions Coinbase to custody digital assets and offer and facilitate crypto trading in France, aligning with EU and international regulations. Additionally, Coinbase has expanded its services to institutional foreign investors outside the United States, enabling them to trade Bitcoin and Ether against USD Coin.
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