With a large and active crypto market, Turkey ranks fourth globally in terms of crypto trading volume. The robust regulatory framework, combined with market growth, has made the nation one of the major players in the cryptocurrency market in 2025. While trading crypto is legal in Turkey, using it for payments is prohibited.
Lately, Turkey has been tightening its compliance requirements for crypto exchanges to increase security.
Crypto Regulation in Turkey
June 24, 2025- Prevention of money laundering and criminal proceeds in crypto
- Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek revealed that Turkey is introducing new transfer limits and mandatory waiting periods for withdrawals on crypto assets.
- It includes wiring periods for 48 to 72 hours for crypto withdrawals, where the travel rule is not applied.
- A daily limit of stablecoin transfers to maintain a constant value will be capped at $3,000 with a monthly limit of $5,000, is also mentioned in the proposal.
March 13, 2025- Communiqué No. III-35/B.1 and the Capital Markets Law and Communiqué No. III-35/B.2
- Turkish Capital Market Board (CMB) has issued new crypto licensing rules to impose stricter oversight on platforms, custody services, and foreign providers.
- It includes licensing, restrictions, and operational guidelines for crypto asset service providers (CASPs).
- Most of the regulations in this bill will take effect from June 30, 2025, while the full implementation will be done by the end of the year.
February 25, 2025- Travel Rule
- The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) implemented mandatory identity verification aligned with FATF rules to enhance anti-money laundering (AML) efforts and curb illicit activities.
- Transactions above 15,000 TL ($425) must provide the sender’s details and the beneficiary’s details.
January 25, 2025- Deadline for CASPs
- CASPs must implement a compliance program designed to address risks associated with money laundering and financing of terrorism, within one month of appointing a compliance officer.
- The deadline for CASPs to appoint compliance and deputy compliance officers to oversee the crypto was January 25. Additionally, CMB was granted full control over crypto in Turkey under the new regulation.
What is the Turkish Government Saying About Crypto?
As of 2025, the Turkish government is focusing on reducing illicit activities in the crypto space by imposing new laws to strengthen anti-money laundering efforts.
The Finance Minister, Mehmet Simsek, said, “We are taking new steps to prevent the laundering of criminal proceeds obtained from illegal betting and fraud through cryptocurrency transactions.”
Keu Highlights are:
- Pushing cryptocurrency rules in line with global standards.
- Transaction thresholds were introduced to maintain long-term value with prevention of fraud.
- Turkey’s Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBİTAK) will audit the technological system of crypto firms.
Crypto License in Turkey 2025
Under the new crypto law in Turkey, a Capital Markets Board (CMB) verified CASP license is mandatory for crypto exchanges, wallet providers, and custodians. It underlines:
- The minimum capital threshold for crypto exchanges is 150 million TL ($4.1 million), while 500 million TL ($13.7 million) is required for custodians.
- Mandatory identity verification and AML compliance.
- CASPs will be required to invest in compliance infrastructure and create dedicated risk management teams to identify and mitigate various risks.
- Strict reporting obligations are also compulsory.
- Penalty: Under Provision / ARTICLE 109/A (Added: 26/6/2024 – Law No. 7518, Article 12), entities found non-compliant will be punished with imprisonment for three to five years and a judicial fine from 5,000 to 10,000 days.
Crypto Tax in Turkey 2025
Is crypto taxed in Turkey? While there is no specific tax regime for crypto assets, it is subject to the existing general income tax. Profits from crypto may be considered income and may be taxed at progressive tax rates.
There were proposals for a minimal transaction tax up to 0.03% to support the national budget, but it has not been implemented yet.
General Income Tax in Turkey 2025:
| Annual income | Tax rate |
| Up to TRY 32,000 ($931) | 15% |
| TRY 32,001 to TRY 70,000 ($931-$2,037) | 20% |
| TRY 70,001 to TRY 150,000 ($2,037-$3,765) | 27% |
| TRY 150,001 to TRY 880,000($2,037-$25,613 | 35% |
| Income exceeding TRY 880,000 ($25,613) | 40% |
Crypto Adoption in Turkey 2025
- Users: Current penetration rate is projected to be 28.17% and is anticipated to increase to 28.22% by 2026, reaching over 24.82 million users.
- Crypto Revenue: The Crypto revenue market in Turkey is expected to reach US$2.2 billion in 2025 and is expected to demonstrate an annual growth of 15.33% resulting in a total amount of US$2.6 billion by 2026.
- Crypto Holdings: The Government’s crypto holdings is not publicly disclosed; policies focus on imposing stricter rules to enhance transparency and safety for crypto consumers in the region.
Conclusion
The crypto market in Turkey is rapidly growing while attracting international businesses to trade with friendly regulations and a fair tax regime. While some countries are focusing on expanding tax rates or increasing the government’s crypto asset holdings, Turkey is focusing on enhancing services for crypto investors and reducing illegal activities. Driven by market growth and security systems, Turkey may soon position itself as a crypto leader.
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FAQs
As of 2025, Turkey does not have a specific crypto tax regime. However, profits from crypto assets are subject to the existing general income tax, taxed at progressive rates ranging from 15% to 40%, depending on the annual income bracket. A proposed 0.03% transaction tax is currently under consideration but not yet implemented.
Turkey ranks fourth globally in crypto trading volume, with a projected penetration rate of 28.17% in 2025, expected to reach 24.82 million users by 2026. Crypto revenue is anticipated to hit US$2.2 billion in 2025,growingtoUS2.6 billion by 2026.
The Turkish Capital Markets Board (CMB) is the primary regulatory authority overseeing cryptocurrency activities in Turkey. They are responsible for licensing, operational oversight, and enforcing compliance for crypto asset service providers (CASPs) as per the new regulations in 2025. Other key bodies include the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) for AML/CFT and TÜBİTAK for technical audits.
