Crypto, Money Laundering and Forbidden Cryptology : The Explosive Case Shaking France’s Judicial Cybersphere
- BECTRA
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
A Case at the Crossroads of Crypto, Laundering, and Organized Crime
In a case straight out of a cybercrime thriller, the Criminal Chamber of the French Court of Cassation ruled on February 15, 2023, on a high-stakes file: a man suspected of being involved in a money laundering operation within an organized criminal network, using cryptocurrency transactions and an encryption solution banned in France.
A Heavy Arsenal of Charges
The prosecutor wasn’t holding back: the charges include criminal conspiracy, the sale of encrypted phones using Sky ECC (a Canadian encryption service popular with criminal networks), the illegal provision and import of cryptographic tools, and the use of cryptocurrency for money laundering.
Sky ECC, Crypto, and Banknote "Tokens": A Blueprint for Organized Obfuscation
According to investigators, photos of banknote serial numbers (called "tokens") were exchanged to confirm cash deliveries. Payments were made in bitcoins through wallets held on Coinbase. One such account, containing nearly $780,000 in cryptoassets, triggered the investigation.
🚫 Lack of Explanation = Presumption of Laundering
The user in question provided no justification for the source of the funds. Worse, he was linked to a Sky ECC identifier tied to drug trafficking operations. The court concluded that the cryptoassets were, in this context, the direct or indirect proceeds of a crime.
"But I Haven’t Been Charged!" Yes, but...
The man contested the seizure of his digital assets, arguing he hadn’t been formally charged or questioned. The Court of Cassation coldly reminded him that, at this stage, he has no right to full access to the case file. The presumption of illegal origin stands given the serious indicators, and the seizure is upheld.
A Clear Signal to the Crypto Industry
This ruling sends a sharp message: unless proven otherwise, crypto-assets linked to criminal tools or identifiers can be deemed suspicious by default—and are thus seizable. A landmark decision that professionals in the blockchain ecosystem should keep a close eye on.
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