Turkey Introduces New Crypto Regulations in the Last Week of 2024

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in the financial sector, I have witnessed the evolution of various regulatory frameworks aimed at curbing illicit activities and ensuring financial stability. The latest move by Turkey to introduce stringent anti-money laundering (AML) regulations for its burgeoning cryptocurrency market is a prudent step towards fostering transparency and accountability in this emerging sector.

This week, Turkey has rolled out fresh regulations for cryptocurrencies with the aim of fortifying their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) systems. Under these new guidelines, people engaging in mid-sized or larger transactions will be required to provide necessary information.

By February 2025, these new rules are intended to curb unlawful financial transactions within the cryptocurrency trading sector.

Turkey’s Anti-Money Laundering Efforts

Starting from the new rules, anyone engaging in cryptocurrency transactions worth more than 15,000 Turkish Liras (approximately $425 USD) is required to disclose their personal details to the relevant cryptocurrency service providers.

The new rules for cryptocurrencies show a worldwide movement towards tighter monitoring of money laundering activities through digital currencies. The nation’s rising influence in global crypto markets partially influenced these actions.

Apart from the transaction limit, new users of the wallet service whose addresses haven’t been registered before will need to go through an identity verification process. If the provider lacks adequate information about the sender, they may label the transaction as “potentially risky” and stop it should the situation call for it.

“If messages being sent repeatedly lack complete information and this information isn’t provided when asked, the receiving cryptocurrency service provider might choose to decline transfers from the sending provider, limit transactions with the questionable provider, or end their business relationship,” as stated in the documentation of the Official Gazette of Turkey.

Under these fresh rules, it falls heavily on cryptocurrency trading platforms and service providers to establish robust identity verification processes for their clients, ensuring security.

An Evolving Crypto Sector

Over the past year, there’s been a significant increase in crypto companies seeking to operate in Turkey, with 47 applications filed with the Capital Markets Board (CMB) by August. This spike in applications came after the introduction of new regulations. Among the notable applicants were well-known exchanges such as Bitfinex, Binance TR, OKX TR, and Gate TR.

The surge in crypto exchange interest in obtaining Turkish licenses can be attributed to the enactment of the “Law on Amendments to the Capital Markets Law” on July 2. This legislation created a regulatory framework for providers of crypto asset services in Turkey.

Despite banning cryptocurrencies as a means of payment since 2021, individuals in Turkey are still allowed to buy, hold, and trade crypto assets.

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2024-12-25 23:03