Belgian Prosecutors Investigate Worldline Money Laundering Allegations

The Brussels Public Prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the Belgian branch of French payments processor Worldline over allegations of money laundering linked to processing payments for illegal entities, following reports from Le Soir and De Standaard. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Judicial Police and marks the first major inquiry after accusations surfaced from the European Investigative Collaborations network. Worldline has acknowledged the investigation and highlighted its recent efforts to strengthen merchant risk controls and terminate relationships with non-compliant clients. The allegations have caused significant market turbulence, reflected in a sharp decline in Worldline's shares. The company has expressed full cooperation with authorities but was unavailable for immediate comment in some reports. This probe underscores increasing scrutiny of payment processors in Europe regarding compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.