Bitcoin Magazine

Bull Bitcoin Secures MiCA License in France, Preserving Full Self-Custody and Privacy Features

Bull Bitcoin has obtained a MiCA license in France, ensuring users in European Union member states can continue accessing its Bitcoin exchange and payment services without interruption or any reduction in functionality. Founder Francis Pouliot announced the development on June 23, 2026, via X, marking the end of a nearly three-year, self-financed effort to enter the European market.

“We are particularly excited to have obtained our MICA license without needing to compromise on our cypherpunk approach to self-custody and privacy,” Pouliot stated. “All features of our website and wallet will remain exactly the same as they have been for the first half of 2026, with no additional burden or restrictions imposed on our users. We have proven that it is possible to meet the highest requirements of regulatory compliance without becoming overzealous.”

The company also reported passing the required PASSI and DORA cybersecurity audits without outsourcing its core Bitcoin infrastructure to third-party hosted providers. “That was a huge win,” Pouliot wrote, noting that relying on external services would have been easier and cheaper but would have compromised sovereignty. The entire process was funded internally, with no external investors or lenders solicited.

Bull Bitcoin, founded in 2013 in Montreal by Pouliot, operates as a Bitcoin-only, non-custodial exchange. Users supply their own wallet address before any purchase, with Bitcoin sent directly to the customer’s control rather than held by the company. This model has defined the firm’s cypherpunk orientation since inception, alongside services such as Bitcoin bill payments for rent, utilities, and real estate, plus support for Lightning Network, Liquid, and Payjoin privacy tools.

The license provides a long-term regulatory foothold in Europe following the company’s expansion of its France-based team and eurozone services. Pouliot previously noted the firm’s experience navigating Canadian oversight and its willingness to meet obligations while pushing back against overreach. The new authorization aligns with that stance: core operations and user experience stay intact.

In October 2025, Bull Bitcoin launched its BULL Wallet, a global, open-source, privacy-first mobile app for iOS and Android with deep opt-in integration to the exchange. Features include Payjoin support, Lightning and Liquid compatibility, and no data collection or push notifications. The wallet and exchange integration remain unchanged under the new license.

Pouliot expressed pride in the team’s execution and outlined next steps: “Having secured a long-term foothold in Europe, our ambition is global domination and setting a new standard on how to build the infrastructure Bitcoin deserves.”

The development comes amid tightening EU crypto rules under MiCA, where many providers have faced pressure to exit or alter operations. Bull Bitcoin’s outcome suggests that rigorous compliance is achievable while maintaining direct user custody, in-house infrastructure control, and privacy tooling, though how exactly they resolved the tension between user privacy expectations and MiCA compliance was not explained in the announcement.

Source: BitcoinMagazine