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Update (Oct. 17, 2025, at 11:00 am UTC): This article has been revised to include remarks from a Binance representative.
France’s financial regulator is carrying out supplementary Anti-Money Laundering (AML) evaluations on Binance and other digital asset exchanges, as Paris advocates for enhanced control over Europe’s cryptocurrency sector under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
According to a report from Bloomberg last Friday, the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) is assessing the Anti-Money Laundering adherence of Binance and “numerous exchanges.” The report referenced undisclosed sources who claimed the evaluations commenced last year and are confidential.
The ACPR allegedly directed Binance, in particular, to enhance its risk management measures last year. A Binance representative informed Cointelegraph that “cooperation with the ACPR is a continual element of functioning as an AML-registered entity.”
The company spokesperson remarked that “inspections are a standard aspect of the ACPR’s regulatory supervision.” The representative also emphasized that — as highlighted in the reports — “the ACPR is undertaking these evaluations across multiple exchanges.”
These examinations are reportedly intended to confirm that entities adhere to regulations, particularly focusing on AML and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CFT). Following last year’s evaluations, Binance was reportedly urged to bolster its compliance and risk management practices.
Firms are generally provided several months to rectify shortcomings, commonly by recruiting additional compliance or IT personnel to enhance risk and cybersecurity frameworks.
Related: EU seeks comprehensive crypto oversight as MiCA encounters tensions
France escalates its ambitions
The renewed examination arises as France indicates a more stringent approach towards the cryptocurrency sector and an eagerness to assume a significant role in European regulation. In mid-September, France cautioned it might pursue blocking cryptocurrency firms that operate locally under licenses issued in other European nations.
At that moment, the French securities regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), expressed its concerns regarding potential regulatory gaps resulting from inconsistent standards across the European Union. This could jeopardize the regulatory passporting that the Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, or MiCA, has introduced.
AMF chair Marie-Anne Barbat-Layani acknowledged that this action would constitute a significant breach of confidence in European markets. Nonetheless, she stated that “it’s still an option we keep in reserve.”
Related: Santander, Crédit Agricole asset division obtains French crypto custody license
France seeks authority over EU crypto
Earlier this month, the Bank of France urged the European Union to grant the Paris-based European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) jurisdiction over the cryptocurrency industry. The central bank’s governor, François Villeroy de Galhau, warned against scattered oversight.
Galhau argued that depending on national regulators may result in inconsistent enforcement throughout the EU. The necessity for uniform rule enforcement is particularly urgent as the cryptocurrency industry experiences rapid expansion in the region.
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