Crypto Regulation in Turkey: What You Need to Know About Rules, Bans, and Crypto Use

When it comes to crypto regulation Turkey, the set of laws and enforcement actions by Turkish authorities that control how cryptocurrencies can be used, traded, and taxed within the country. Also known as Turkish cryptocurrency laws, it has gone from cautious interest to outright restrictions in just a few years. Unlike countries that welcome crypto as part of their financial future, Turkey has taken a hardline approach—banning crypto payments, cracking down on exchanges, and forcing users to rely on peer-to-peer trading.

One of the biggest moves came in 2021 when the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey banned crypto payments, a rule that made it illegal for businesses and individuals to use Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other digital asset to pay for goods and services. Also known as crypto payment ban, this wasn’t about stopping crypto itself—it was about stopping banks and payment processors from handling it. The goal? To protect the Turkish lira from volatility and capital flight. But instead of killing crypto use, it pushed people into unregulated P2P markets and offshore exchanges. Meanwhile, crypto taxation Turkey, the way the Turkish Revenue Administration tracks and taxes gains from crypto trades. Also known as crypto income tax Turkey, it’s still unclear how strictly this is enforced—but if you sell crypto for lira and make a profit, you’re technically liable for capital gains tax. Many traders ignore this, but audits are becoming more common, especially for large transactions.

Exchange platforms operating in Turkey have been hit hard. Major global platforms like Binance and Kraken have had to pull back services or limit features. Local exchanges like Paribu and BtcTurk still operate, but they’re under constant pressure to comply with strict KYC rules and report user data to authorities. If you’re using crypto in Turkey, you’re likely doing it through wallets, P2P apps like Paxful, or overseas exchanges—none of which are protected by Turkish law. That means no recourse if you get scammed, hacked, or frozen out.

Despite the restrictions, crypto adoption in Turkey remains high. Inflation hit 85% in 2022, and millions turned to Bitcoin and USDT to protect their savings. The government didn’t stop them—they just made it harder, riskier, and less transparent. Today, crypto in Turkey isn’t about innovation or investment—it’s about survival.

Below, you’ll find real cases, scams, and breakdowns of how crypto works under Turkey’s rules. Some posts expose fake airdrops targeting locals. Others show how people bypass bans using stablecoins. And a few warn about the growing risk of crypto ATM fraud in Istanbul and Ankara. This isn’t theoretical—it’s what people are dealing with every day.