Turkey recently underwent an unprecedented reform in its regulatory framework regarding cryptocurrency, thanks to Financial Crimes Investigation Board’s (MASAK) new guidelines on this matter. These rules have sparked considerable conversation within the crypto community; Burak Kesmeci, an esteemed Turkish crypto analyst, offered valuable insight on their implications both legal and crypto user perspectives.
New Hurdles for Crypto Traders and Enhanced Protection for Investors, Explains Analyst
On June 28, 2025, MASAK issued General Communique No. 29 which contains immediate changes for virtual asset service providers under Law 5549 to prevent money laundering. Burak Kesmeci along with legal expert Ahmed Karaca provided insights into key aspects of this directive. Significant reform is the introduction of a mandatory hold period for crypto transactions – 72 hours for first withdrawals from local exchanges, 48 for subsequent transactions. Kesmeci noted that while this move aimed at combatting money laundering and fraud by providing more extended periods to detect suspicious activity may help stop money laundering, it poses a negative development for traders by impairing short-term trading capabilities on international platforms.
Kesmeci notes that these caps are the result of 2021 policies specifically targeting stablecoins; transactions involving other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum remain unrestricted.
MASAK’s Initiative for Exchange Transparency and Secure Asset Storage
Another notable regulation in Turkey is requiring exchanges to report new token listings to Turkey’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), providing unprecedented transparency, offering crypto users insight into the listing process for the first time. Furthermore, MASAK has implemented stringent custody rules mandating that 95% of user funds be stored with approved custodians rather than remaining on exchange storage for maximum 5 percent in order to reduce risks of exchange failure similar to what happened with FTX and Thodex incidents.
Turkey’s regulatory shift in the crypto space represents an overall shift towards increased oversight, balancing innovation with consumer protection and market integrity. Once these rules take effect, traders, investors, and service providers alike can expect a change that prioritises safety and transparency in an ever-expanding digital economy.
