Bull Bitcoin petitions France's Conseil d'État to strike down DAC8, the mass surveillance of crypto-assets

Embargoed until July 8, 2026, 11:59 AM (CET). Not for publication, broadcast, or distribution before this date and time.

Paris, July 8, 2026.

Bull Bitcoin, the world's oldest Bitcoin-only and non-custodial exchange, recently licensed under MiCA by France's financial markets regulator (the AMF, through its entity LEONOD SARL), has filed a legal challenge before the Conseil d'État, France's supreme administrative court, seeking to annul Decree No. 2025-1276, the main measure transposing the European DAC8 directive into French law. Alongside the legal action, the company is making dac8.com public: a complete, fully sourced resource for citizens, journalists and policymakers.

Since January 1, 2026, DAC8 (Directive (EU) 2023/2226) has required European crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) such as Bull Bitcoin to systematically collect and hand over the identity and transaction data of millions of crypto-asset users to their local tax authorities, so that this data can be automatically exchanged between the tax services of member states. The danger lies in the creation of a mass database linking legal identity, home address and transaction history, including transactions that have no relevance whatsoever to taxation.

Against a backdrop of daily data leaks and a surge in kidnappings targeting crypto-asset holders, building such a database endangers the physical safety of millions of holders and their loved ones. The civil servants with access to this data are also put at risk, becoming targets for anyone seeking to obtain it. This information will moreover be shared with the tax administrations of every country within the scope of the exchange, far beyond France. Given the precedents of leaked government data, internal corruption and illegal resale, the question is worth asking: do we really want our personal information accessible by that many third parties, from that many countries?

DAC8 has transformed the concept of Know Your Customer into Kill Your Customer

On February 24, 2026, Bull Bitcoin filed a summary petition before the Conseil d'État, followed by a substantive brief setting out the full grounds. This action is only a first front: the company intends to pursue every legitimate avenue to suspend, delay, annul or amend the effects of DAC8 and its global counterpart, the CARF.

We cannot let the very foundations of civilization be shattered by this attack on privacy rights. We must draw a line in the sand and refuse to cede any more territory before we have nothing left. Someone must take a stand. It appears that no one else is willing and able to do so. Therefore, it falls to Bull Bitcoin to lead this fight.

dac8.com brings together the full set of facts, figures, official sources (EUR-Lex, OECD, Legifrance) and analysis, in French, English and other European languages.

About Bull Bitcoin. Founded in 2013 by Francis Pouliot, Bull Bitcoin is the world's oldest Bitcoin-only and non-custodial exchange: the company never holds its clients' bitcoin. Recently licensed under MiCA through the AMF (entity LEONOD SARL), it operates in Canada, Europe and Mexico. Self-funded since inception, it has never raised capital or taken on debt to remain fully independent.

Availability. The Bull Bitcoin team is available to answer any questions from journalists, in writing, by video call or on set.

Press contact
Theo Mogenet, Managing Director of Bull Bitcoin in Europe
theo@bullbitcoin.com

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