Crypto Association in Turkey Vows to Block Exchanges That ‘Victimize Traders’

A new organization has been established in Turkey with the aim to monitor and help develop the country’s crypto sector, local media reported. Its first task will be to address recent problems with some cryptocurrency exchanges and boost confidence in the industry as a whole.

People trading cryptocurrencies in Turkey have been estimated at over 8 million as of 2022, according to Emrah Inanc, head of the Crypto Industry Development, Monitoring and Reporting Association. The country is in the world’s top five in terms of crypto investments, he highlighted.

Speaking to the Anadolu Agency, the top executive of the newly-founded organization also emphasized that transparency is crucial for the development of the crypto sector. That’s why it will first focus efforts on solving problems with crypto exchanges and improve confidence in the industry.

Inanc pointed out that a number of exchanges from the Far East have been trying to attract Turkish customers. On this backdrop, he noted that the lack of rules and regulatory authority has led to “inconvenient results,” and acknowledged some of the challenges in relations with the public sector:

We are faced with allegations that some exchanges have blocked customer accounts illegally for financing terrorism and money laundering.

Emrah Inanc also indicated that the association is ready to periodically and transparently share information about the shortcomings it’s identifying with all relevant institutions. He also warned traders about dealings with offshore exchange platforms.

“In order to prevent these illegal practices and irregularities, we will take the necessary steps to block cryptocurrency exchanges … that cause unlawful transactions, cause victimization, and threaten our citizens and the country’s economy,” Inanc elaborated. He also urged both individuals and organizations to send requests, suggestions, and complaints to the group by filling out a form posted on its website.

With the popularity of cryptocurrencies growing amid high inflation, Turkey has become an attractive market for crypto exchanges in the past few years. Turkish traders were also affected by a few failures in the sector, including that of FTX which filed for bankruptcy in mid-November. Turkey’s financial watchdog launched a probe into the collapse of the major exchange as it had a Turkish platform.

Several domestic exchanges have also shut down, such as Thodex, whose founders and top executives were accused of committing fraud and money laundering as part of a suspected exit scam. Vebitcoin was investigated when it ceased activities after the country’s central bank banned crypto payments, and Coinzo closed down as well.

Do you think the new crypto association will help the development of the crypto industry in Turkey? Tell us in the comments section below.