On April 16, 2021, the Turkish Central Bank issued a statement relating to crypto assets. It said that cryptoassets entail significant risks because: (i) they are neither subject to any regulation nor supervision mechanisms nor a central regulatory authority, (ii) their market values can be excessively volatile, (iii) they may be used in illegal actions due to their anonymous structures, (iv) wallets can be stolen or used unlawfully without the authorization of their holders, and (v) transactions are irrevocable.
Because of these risks, a Regulation was issued banning the use of cryptocurrency for payments. As reported in the government’s official newspaper, the purpose of the regulation is so that cryptoassets will not be used for payments, directly or indirectly. In addition, companies that handle payments and electronic fund transfers are prohibited from processing transactions involving cryptocurrency. The Regulation goes into effect on April 30, 2021.
Author
David Zaslowsky
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David Zaslowsky is partner in the Litigation Department of Baker McKenzie's New York office. He helps companies solve complex commercial disputes in arbitration and litigation, especially those involving cross-border issues and Section 1782 discovery. David has a degree in computer science and, as a result, has worked on numerous technology-related disputes, including, most recently, those involving blockchain and artificial intelligence. In April 2025, Attorney Intel named David one of the top 25 blockchain lawyers in the country. He is the editor of the Firm's blockchain blog and co-editor of the firm's International Litigation & Arbitration Newsletter. David has been included for a number of years in the Chambers USA Guide and Chambers Global Guide for his expertise in international arbitration. He also sits as an arbitrator and is on the roster of arbitrators for a number of arbitral institutions. David sits on the Board and chairs the governance committee of the New York International Arbitration Center, and is a founding member of the International Arbitration Club of New York. For over 35 years, he has written and spoken often on the subjects of arbitration and international litigation.