France Mandates ISPs to Block Polymarket: Regulatory Crackdown on Crypto Prediction Markets

In a significant regulatory move, France has officially ordered its internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to Polymarket, a leading decentralized prediction market platform. This action underscores the French government's growing scrutiny of crypto-based betting and speculative platforms, which are often classified as unlicensed gambling operations. The ban targets Polymarket's entire domain, preventing users from engaging with its prediction contracts, which have gained popularity for trading on real-world events like elections and sports. This development highlights the ongoing tension between decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and national regulatory frameworks, particularly in the European Union. For the crypto market, this news signals increased regulatory risk for prediction market tokens and related DeFi protocols, potentially impacting investor sentiment and market liquidity.