Wise shares tumbled after Brussels prosecutors confirmed questions related to money-laundering concerns, following reports of a Belgian probe into potential misuse of Wise accounts in criminal proceeds.

The Belgian investigation, opened in 2025 and reportedly involving about 400 million pounds (roughly 500 million euros) in transactions, is said to be at an advanced stage and nearing its conclusion by the public prosecutor's office.

The probe focuses on whether Wise adequately identifies customers and monitors transactions to comply with anti-money laundering rules, with emphasis on Wise's European operations based in Brussels.

The coverage frames the response and risk assessment within a broader trend of heightened regulatory vigilance around AML standards for cross-border fintechs.

Geopolitical and market context show Wise shifted its primary trading location to the United States in 2025, with London as a secondary listing; this follows prior regulatory and leadership developments, including a 2024 fine of 350,000 pounds for a co-founder over tax-notification issues.

The stock’s decline contrasts with stable or modest gains in major U.S. indices, indicating the drop is specific to Wise rather than a market-wide move.

Wise has grown from a simple money-transfer service to a global fintech, offering international payments, multi-currency accounts, debit cards, and business solutions.

In the last year, about 18% of Wise’s revenue came from the U.S., with European operations contributing more than 30%, and UK revenue slightly higher than the rest of Europe.

The article is subscriber-only and originates from Le Soir, with ongoing legal scrutiny but limited specifics due to access restrictions.

Wise serves over 19 million customers and processes roughly 4.7 million transactions daily, and it has faced multiple AML-related penalties, including a $4.2 million fine for its U.S. subsidiary.

Wise’s AML scrutiny is ongoing, with prior issues in 2023–2024 relating to the U.S. subsidiary, and earlier Belgian issues over proof-of-address; the company says it cooperates with reviews and implements recommendations.

In May 2026, Wise began trading on Nasdaq after moving its main listing to New York a year earlier, while continuing to operate with a London listing as a secondary venue.