Wise share falls further — Belgian investigation without concrete allegations

The share of Wise came under pressure on Monday after Belgian authorities raised questions about the payment service provider's money laundering controls. The London-based fintech group confirmed to media partners that it is responding to inquiries from Belgian authorities. The share reacted with significant losses to the news.

Wise stated in a statement that the company "is cooperating with the Brussels public prosecutor's office," but at the same time emphasized: "To date, we have not been informed of any specific findings." The company thus signals that this is a routine investigation and no concrete allegations are pending.

Focus on compliance structures

The investigation focuses on the company's internal control mechanisms for combating money laundering – an area in which fintech companies in Europe are subject to increased supervision. Wise is responding to questions from Belgian authorities and is working transparently with investigators.

The pressure on the share reflects the sensitivity markets show toward compliance issues at fintech providers. Wise had established itself in recent years as one of the leading providers for international money transfers and went public on the London Stock Exchange in 2021. The investigation by Belgian authorities is a test of the robustness of the company's compliance structures – a critical factor for the confidence of investors and regulators.