Wise Investigated by Belgian Prosecutors Over Money Laundering Suspicions
Quick Look
- Belgian prosecutors are investigating Wise, a UK money transfer company, over suspicions its accounts were used for money laundering.
- The probe, nearing conclusion, focuses on its European operations and alleged non-compliance with anti-money laundering laws.
- Wise stated it is cooperating but no specific findings have been shared.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Belgian prosecutors are investigating Wise, a UK-based money transfer company, over suspicions that its accounts were used for money laundering. The investigation is focused on Wise's European operations and is reportedly nearing its conclusion. The company has faced previous regulatory scrutiny and fines for AML compliance issues.
UK money transfer company Wise is being investigated over suspicions criminals used its accounts for money laundering, Belgian prosecutors have told French media.
Wise said it was working with the Brussels prosecutor's office but that "no specific findings have been shared with us to date".
Belgian prosecutors told press agency AFP the investigation, which is focused on Wise's European operations and not its UK business, was "nearing its conclusion".
The confirmation comes after The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) reported the company's platforms were suspected of being involved in around €500m (£432m) worth of suspicious transactions spanning 30 European countries.
Shares in the company, which is listed in London and the US, fell sharply by 17.5% after the news broke.
A spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutors' office told AFP the investigation was "now at an advanced stage".
"The findings primarily concern the use of Wise accounts for criminal purposes, with indications of non-compliance with anti-money laundering legislation, particularly due to a failure to identify customers and their activities," the spokesperson added.
In a statement, Wise said it was working with the Brussels prosecutor "to respond to queries about our business, as we routinely do with regulators and law-enforcement authorities".
"No specific findings have been shared with us to date. As such, it would be speculative for us to comment on any allegations," the company said.
It said requests for information from law enforcement agencies were "a normal part of operations and are not, in themselves, indicative of non-compliance with anti-money laundering requirements or of any wrongdoing".
Founded in London in 2011, Wise is best known for facilitating cross-border money transfers and has more than 19 million customers worldwide. Wise says it processed about 4.7 million transactions a day.
It is dual-listed in the US and UK, having moved its primary stock market listing to the US Nasdaq index last month. Its European business is based in Belgium, from where it serves the rest of Europe and the EU.
In 2024, the Financial Times reported the firm had been told to improve its processes after the National Bank of Belgium found evidence that it lacked a proof of address for hundreds of thousands of customers.
Wise was also fined $4.2m (£3.1m) by six US states over AML compliance violations last year and $360,000 by Abu Dhabi's financial services regulator in 2022.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Belgian prosecutors will release specific findings of their investigation.
Very likely · Within weeks
Wise will implement further improvements to its anti-money laundering processes.
Very likely · Within months
Wise's stock price may continue to be volatile as the investigation progresses.
Likely · Short term
Open Questions
- What specific findings have Belgian prosecutors made?
- Will Wise face charges or further penalties?
- What are the implications for Wise's European operations and customer base?
- How will this affect Wise's stock price and market position?
