Binance under investigation in France: prosecutors investigate money laundering and tax fraud

Key points

• The investigation is being conducted by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office (JUNALCO).
• The exchange is suspected of money laundering, tax violations, and operating without a license.
• The case could be key to the application of the new MiCA rules in the EU.

The French prosecutor’s office has launched a judicial investigation into the Binance crypto exchange, which is suspected of money laundering and tax evasion. The investigation is being conducted by the economic and financial crimes unit JUNALCO, and the period under investigation covers 2019-2024.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the authorities’ attention was drawn to user complaints and suspicions that Binance was operating in France without the necessary permits from the Financial Markets Authority (AMF). The investigation includes checking for possible cases of illegal customer acquisition and systematic money laundering related to drug trafficking and tax evasion.

Regulatory pressure intensifies

The investigation in France is part of global pressure on Binance, which is facing scrutiny from regulators around the world, from the US and the UK to Germany and the Netherlands.

In France, cryptocurrency services are required to register with the AMF, but according to investigators, Binance may have been providing services to French customers without a license.

Binance claims that it complies with all requirements and implements robust AML and KYC measures, but authorities point to gaps in internal controls. These discrepancies between the company’s statements and the regulators’ assessment have heightened suspicions.

Ahead of the entry into force of the European MiCA law, the Binance case is seen as a test of the crypto industry’s readiness to operate under the new standards.

If the allegations are confirmed, the exchange could face multimillion-dollar fines, restrictions, and even a ban on operating in the EU. Analysts believe that this process could set a precedent for further tightening of regulations for crypto exchanges around the world.

What is known about the latest developments surrounding Binance

Following the collapse of the cryptocurrency market on October 10, 2025, Binance paid users $283 million in compensation for losses caused by the temporary depegging of assets in Binance Earn products.

The exchange emphasized that the market crash occurred before the incident and promised to strengthen protection against similar cases by introducing new price stabilization and liquidity monitoring mechanisms.