French Regulators Target Binance and Other Crypto Exchanges for AML Compliance

Highlights:

• French authorities are inspecting Binance and other crypto exchanges for EU compliance.
• The checks focus on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism measures.
• Europe is strengthening crypto regulations and stablecoin rules across all member states.

French authorities have been inspecting Binance and dozens of other crypto exchanges since late last year, Bloomberg reports. The aim is to see which platforms registered in France can receive EU-wide permits soon. The checks focus on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism measures across hundreds of crypto service providers.

France Checks Crypto Firms for Rule Compliance

The French supervisory body, Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR), started these checks late last year under the PSAN registration rules. Sources say Binance and Coinhouse are among the firms under review by French authorities.

Binance was specifically instructed last year to “strengthen its risk controls,” which could involve hiring more compliance staff or upgrading IT security systems. When approached about the checks, Binance told Bloomberg that such inspections are a “standard part of the supervision of regulated entities.” Both ACPR and Coinhouse declined to comment on the matter.

French regulators have expanded anti-money laundering (AML) checks on cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance. The ACPR is carrying out controls on dozens of exchanges, an effort that started late last year. Binance says it is cooperating fully and complying with EU and local…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) October 17, 2025

Binance has faced many compliance and anti-money laundering issues. Regulators say its AML and KYC checks are weak. Previously, U.S. regulators fined Binance $4.3 billion for breaking AML rules. Founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao resigned and was imprisoned. Binance left Asian markets in 2021 due to strict rules, but later reentered by acquiring South Korea’s Gopax. In July, it avoided Singapore’s crackdown on unlicensed platforms because its 400 local employees worked remotely while the company’s base remained overseas.

The latest inspections are part of France’s wider push to prepare for MiCA, the EU’s full regulatory framework for digital assets, coming into effect by late 2025. Under the new AMF rules, all registered crypto service providers must meet stricter operational, security, and reporting standards. In France, companies have until June 2026 to secure approval.

Companies that do not get full MiCA authorization by July 1, 2026, could lose the right to operate legally across the EU. So far, only Deblock, GOin, Bitstack, and Credit Agricole-owned CACEIS have received the license. 

EU Pushes for Stronger Oversight on Crypto and Stablecoins

French regulators are doing more than national checks. Recently, Bank of France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau urged the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to directly oversee major crypto firms and strengthen MiCA rules. He specifically pointed to stablecoins, noting that stricter rules are needed for multiple issuances of the same stablecoin within and outside the EU. This, he said, would help reduce arbitrage risks during periods of market stress.

The inspections of crypto platforms come as Europe moves toward stronger centralized oversight of the market. Last month, France, Austria, and Italy called on the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to directly supervise major crypto companies and enforce stricter rules. Since then, the EU has been working to create uniform cross-border regulations. It is also setting up licensing systems to keep standards consistent across member states.