Turkey Cracks Down: New Crypto Rules Target Money Laundering

Turkey introduced comprehensive new regulations on cryptocurrency in June 2025 to tackle the issues of money laundering, illegal betting and fraud. To ensure compliance with global anti-money laundering regulations, Turkey has implemented stringent measures. To facilitate the tracking of funds, the new regulations mandate that all crypto transactions must have a minimum transaction description of 20 characters. Moreover, crypto withdrawals must be processed within 48 hours after purchase, exchange, or deposit, and the same day for first-time withdrawal from new accounts, all with the aim of disrupting fast fund movements. Additionally,

The new rules also impose limitless daily and monthly stablecoin transfer limits, from $3,000 to $50,000; adding even more limits for platforms that fully follow the "travel rule", and stricter KYC procedures and record-keeping for all transactions mandated by CASs. Also, the CASP must be licensed by the Capital Markets Board (CMB), have certain capital adequacy criteria such as 150 million tonnes for exchanges and 500 million tons with cussendars, operate as joint-stock companies, and adopt strong risk management frameworks. All other forms should follow these prerequisites to operate.

The reforms, as per the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance, are designed to prevent the illegal misuse of cryptocurrencies without impeding legitimate activities. It is focused on improving transparency, enhancing compliance and harmonizing with international standards such as EU’s MiCA framework. Non-compliance may result in administrative fines, financial penalties, or the revocation of operational licenses. These rules will likely completely transform Turkey's crypto landscape, making it harder for illegal actors to exploit digital assets.