The French financial regulator has indicated that it may block access to the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit’s website. French users are advised to secure their assets in advance.
Bybit has been blacklisted in France since May 2022 for operating without the necessary license. This means the exchange is functioning illegally in the country. A court decision could initiate the website’s blockage at any time.
Earlier in March, Bybit was also listed as a dubious exchange in Hong Kong. Despite this, Bybit remains a leading exchange globally, following Binance’s exit from several markets.
This move is part of a broader regulatory trend to shut down centralized exchanges (CEX) in Europe. Regulators are tightening KYC, AML, and customer data checks, often stricter than commercial banks. The goal is not to ban cryptocurrencies but to control the market ahead of introducing digital CBECs, ensuring accounts can be managed effectively.
