Is crypto legal in Turkey?

Yes, crypto is legal in Turkey. People can buy, hold and sell bitcoin and other tokens, and as of October 2026 the country is moving platforms into a licensing system run by its capital markets regulator. What is not allowed is using crypto as a means of payment.

Is crypto banned in Turkey?

No, but its use is restricted. The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) issued the Regulation on the Disuse of Crypto Assets in Payments, published on April 16, 2021 and in force from April 30, 2021. Under it:

• crypto cannot be used, directly or indirectly, to make payments;
• payment and electronic money firms cannot build services that use crypto for payments;
• those firms cannot act as intermediaries for crypto platforms or for transfers from them.

The regulation targets payments, not ownership. Trading on exchanges continued after it took effect.

How does the Turkey SPK crypto license work?

Law No. 7518, published on July 2, 2024, amended the Capital Markets Law and put crypto asset service providers under the SPK. Exchanges and custodians need SPK permission, and AML rules treat them as financial institutions with customer identity checks. CMS reports a minimum paid-up capital of TRY 50 million for applicants. An SPK decision in September 2024 also barred lending, credit and leveraged crypto products.

Existing firms had to declare whether they would apply or wind down. The SPK publishes a temporary list of firms operating while their applications are reviewed, and it states that being on the list is not the same as being authorised. In late September 2026 the list showed 43 trading platforms and 9 custody applicants, mostly banks. A separate liquidation list covers firms that are closing, which must stop taking new customers while they return assets. The guide on what happens if a crypto exchange goes bankrupt explains why that process matters to users.

Can foreign exchanges serve users in Turkey?

Only in limited cases. According to CMS, an overseas platform may serve a Turkish resident who contacts it on their own initiative, but a Turkish-language website, local marketing or a Turkish office counts as targeting Turkey, which needs authorisation. Unauthorised crypto services are a criminal offence carrying three to five years in prison and a judicial fine.

Is bitcoin legal in Turkey for tax purposes?

Holding bitcoin is legal, but Turkey has not written specific tax rules for it, and a 2026 attempt to add them was withdrawn. The guide to how crypto is taxed in Turkey covers that in detail. For the money laundering checks platforms must run, see crypto anti-money laundering rules.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the official regulator or a qualified professional for your own situation.