France Orders ISPs to Block Polymarket Amid Regulatory Crackdown

Key Facts

In a move reflecting the intensifying regulatory pressure on decentralized trading platforms in Europe, French authorities have officially ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket. This action follows a thorough review of the crypto-based platform's operations, with regulators concluding that it operates without the necessary authorizations within French jurisdiction. According to reports, the decision aims to curb illegal betting activities that fall under the category of unlicensed gambling.

The French crackdown comes at a time when prediction markets are experiencing explosive growth, with Polymarket recording record trading volumes exceeding $1 billion in recent months driven by global events, according to data from Dune Analytics. This move aligns France with other jurisdictions like the United States, where the CFTC previously imposed restrictions on the platform for offering unregistered binary options contracts, reinforcing a global trend toward bringing decentralized protocols under local legal frameworks.

On the economic front, markets are awaiting the U.S. Core CPI data release on July 14, 2026, which may influence risk appetite across the digital asset sector, while focus remains on whether other European nations will follow France's lead in blocking the platform.