France has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, escalating its crackdown on the crypto-linked prediction market after earlier payment restrictions failed to stop French users from reaching the platform.
France has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, escalating its crackdown on the crypto-linked prediction market after earlier payment restrictions failed to stop French users from reaching the platform.
France escalates from payment restrictions to ISP blocking
The move shifts enforcement from the financial layer to the network layer, targeting the connection itself rather than the money flowing through it. France’s gaming regulator has held that prediction market platforms are illegal in France and potentially risky for users. For related coverage, see Bank of America Taps New Leaders for Crypto, AI and Traditional Finance.
Polymarket is a crypto-based prediction market where participants trade on the outcomes of real-world events, with positions settled in digital assets. French authorities have moved to block access to the platform, according to reporting from Le Monde. For related coverage, see Dash activates Orchard-based shielded pools on mainnet.
WHAT TO KNOW
- France is ordering ISPs to block Polymarket at the network level, not just restricting payments.
- The practical effect is that reaching the site from within France becomes harder even for users who could previously fund accounts.
Why the payments ban did not stop access to Polymarket
Blocking payments and blocking site access address different parts of the problem. A payments restriction targets the rails that move money onto a platform, while an ISP block targets the ability to load the website at all. For related coverage, see BitGo Adds USDM1 Custody and Settlement on 3 Chains.
Because Polymarket settles in crypto rather than through conventional banking channels alone, payment controls left room for continued participation, which is why regulators moved toward a harder network-level measure. France’s regulator has framed the platforms as illegal and risky for users in its gambling-related concerns cited by Crypto Briefing. For related coverage, see Three Men Jailed for Posing as Police in $5.3M UK Crypto Fraud.
What the move could mean for crypto prediction markets
For users in France, an ISP block raises the friction of reaching Polymarket directly, marking a firmer stance than a standalone payment restriction. The step signals that French authorities are willing to escalate when narrower measures prove insufficient.
The case may matter for other crypto-linked platforms facing jurisdictional scrutiny in France, where regulators have shown willingness to restrict services that fall outside domestic licensing. Binance recently halted crypto trading in France after a MiCA license setback, underscoring the regulatory pressure crypto operators face in the market.
How Polymarket and its users respond to the block remains the open question, and further regulatory action across the European Union could shape how other prediction markets approach the region.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.