Frances national gambling regulator, the ANJ, has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, the cryptocurrency-based prediction market platform. The order cites violations of French gambling laws and concerns about market manipulation on the platform.
The ANJ determined that Polymarkets event contracts fall under Frances gambling regulations and that the platform has been operating without the necessary licenses to offer such services to French residents. The regulator had previously attempted to block payment flows to the platform, but users were able to circumvent those restrictions using cryptocurrency transactions.
France becomes the latest jurisdiction to take action against Polymarket, which has faced regulatory scrutiny in multiple countries. The platform allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events using cryptocurrency, ranging from election results to sports outcomes and economic data releases.
Polymarket has experienced significant growth in 2026, driven by high-profile event contracts related to US politics, Federal Reserve policy decisions, and the 2026 World Cup. The platforms trading volumes have reached new highs, attracting both retail users and sophisticated traders.
The French ban follows a similar move by regulators in other jurisdictions who have expressed concerns about whether prediction market contracts constitute gambling or regulated financial derivatives. Polymarket has maintained that its operations comply with applicable laws and has continued to expand its product offerings, including filing for a US license to offer margin trading.
This article was adapted from Blockonomi. Read the original here.
