Turkey has moved from a largely unregulated crypto market to one of the more tightly supervised regimes in the region. For foreign investors, exchanges, and businesses holding digital assets with a Turkish nexus, understanding the current framework is no longer optional.
The Foundation: Law No. 7518
The cornerstone of Turkish crypto regulation is Law No. 7518, which amended the Capital Markets Law and, for the first time, gave crypto assets a statutory definition: intangible assets created and stored virtually using distributed ledger technology, distributed over digital networks, and capable of representing value or rights.
The law placed crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) under the licensing and supervision of the Capital Markets Board (SPK). Two implementing communiqués now govern the establishment, operation, and conduct of licensed platforms. The practical consequences are significant:
