How a Crypto User Beat Two European Giants in Court (and Taught Us All a Lesson on Consumer Rights)
- BECTRA
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
What if your crypto wallet could also defend you in court ?
That’s precisely what happened to one French individual — let’s call him Mr. X — when he faced off against not one, but two major European crypto platforms... and won.
The legal twist? The court ruled he was still a consumer, despite managing crypto assets worth over €300,000. Yes, you read that right.
The Backstory : Crypto Account, Suspicious Activity & a Lawsuit
In October 2017, Mr. X opened an account on a well-known crypto exchange platform.Later, he noticed suspicious and unauthorized transactions.
So, he did what most people only dream of: he sued both companies behind the platform.He accused them of failing their duty of care and security and claimed damages.
Game on.
The Platforms Fire Back: "Not in a French Court!"
Both companies argued that the case didn’t belong in France, since they were headquartered abroad.
But Mr. X had a trick up his sleeve: consumer protection rights under the Brussels I Regulation (EU No. 1215/2012).If you’re a consumer, you can sue where you live — no matter where the other party is.
The Real Battle: Was Mr. X a “Professional” or Just a Very Involved Amateur?
The companies claimed:
He had received 2.25 million XEM tokens.
He was involved with a blockchain foundation.
He made 200+ transactions in 9 months.
He made over €300,000 in profit.
Sounds like a crypto pro, right? Not quite.
The French Supreme Court Drops the Mic
The court found that:
Mr. X’s involvement in the foundation was voluntary.
He did not offer services to others or run a business.
His profits were part of managing personal assets, not a professional venture.
And yes, even if he had serious gains, that didn’t automatically strip him of his consumer status.
Result: French courts were fully competent to hear the case. The platforms had to face French justice.Game, set, match: Consumer 1 — Platforms 0.
Why This Case Is a Big Deal for Crypto Users ?
Because it breaks a myth :
“Big crypto activity = Professional ? Not necessarily.”
You can:
✔️ Receive tokens
✔️ Make profits
✔️ Use crypto regularly
… and still be considered a consumer — which comes with big legal perks.
Takeaways You Can’t Ignore
✅ The consumer status applies even if you’re heavily involved in crypto.
✅ Big earnings don’t make you a professional — the intention matters.
✅ European courts are increasingly adapting to crypto realities.
✅ And most importantly: Your rights still matter, even in the decentralized world.
Food for thought:
"The law may be slow… but it’s never outdated."
Even in the rapidly shifting world of Web3, consumer protection still wins the day.Keep your receipts. Know your rights. And don’t be afraid to use them — even when the other party speaks smart contract.
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