Web3: the ANJ launches its anti-money laundering offensive
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25 Sep 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes The challenges associated with money laundering are now entering new territory: Web3 and digital gaming. After tightening controls on traditional gaming establishments, the French authorities are now turning their attention to games involving monetisable digital items (JONUM). The National Gaming Authority (ANJ), the Treasury Department and Tracfin have launched a joint initiative to prepare this emerging sector for the application of anti-money laundering measures.
A rapidly changing sector under the watchful eye of regulators
Monitoring financial flows in casinos is a long-standing practice. Every suspicious transaction must be reported to Tracfin, a procedure that has helped to limit the risk of criminal infiltration. Today, this same logic is being applied to Web3. JONUM, which allows digital items to be monetised, poses similar challenges: high liquidity, relative anonymity of players and speed of transactions.
Created in the wake of the law on securing and regulating the digital space (SREN), JONUMs are at the heart of an experimental legal framework. They consist of monetising digital objects (often linked to video games or immersive platforms) and raise new questions in terms of regulation.
This legal framework should be fully operational by early 2026. The companies concerned will then have to apply the same anti-money laundering obligations as those imposed on more traditional sectors, such as banks and casinos.
Stronger cooperation against fraud
The meeting organised by the ANJ illustrates a broader movement: the desire of public authorities to join forces. Tracfin, a body specialising in the detection of suspicious financial flows, emphasised the importance of inter-institutional cooperation.
The gaming sector, whether traditional or digital, is considered sensitive. Fast transactions, variable amounts and sometimes the difficulty of identifying users make it a fertile ground for money laundering attempts. JONUMs, with their digital and decentralised nature, increase this risk.
Web3 advocates see these measures as an essential step towards establishing the sector’s credibility. Without clear rules, companies struggle to convince institutional investors. But conversely, excessive constraints could stifle creativity in a field that is still fragile.
Why act now, when the full framework will not be applicable until 2026? Because time is of the essence. Preventive support should enable Web3 companies to gradually integrate compliance requirements. The idea is to avoid a regulatory shock that could slow down innovation or push certain players away from the French market.
A signal sent to the international community
Beyond France’s borders, this initiative is being closely watched. Many countries are seeking to regulate cryptoassets, NFTs and now monetisable digital objects. By anticipating the application of anti-money laundering rules, France is sending a clear signal: it wants to remain a leading player in digital regulation.
The success of this approach could serve as a model for other European states and strengthen France’s influence in international negotiations. In a globalised digital space, no regulation can function in isolation.
The fight against money laundering knows no boundaries: after making its mark in casinos, it is now spreading to Web3. The ANJ, Tracfin and the Treasury are orchestrating this transition by preparing the JONUM sector to integrate a rigorous system by 2026.