Turkey to Tighten Crypto Rules with Transfer Limits and Withdrawal Delays

Turkey is preparing to tighten its regulations on cryptocurrency transactions in a bid to combat money laundering and financial crime, according to a report from the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).

Under the new proposals, crypto platforms will be required to collect detailed information about the origin and purpose of every transaction. Users must include a transaction description of at least 20 characters for each transfer, AA reported on Tuesday.

In addition to these disclosure requirements, platforms will be obligated to enforce holding periods on crypto withdrawals when the Financial Action Task Force’s Travel Rule is not applicable. These will include a 48-hour delay for most withdrawals and a 72-hour delay for the first withdrawal from any account.

The measures are part of a broader initiative by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of Turkey to ramp up oversight of crypto asset service providers (CASPs).

The report also revealed that the ministry will set daily and monthly limits on stablecoin transfers to prevent the quick outflow of illicit funds tied to activities such as illegal betting and fraud. Users will be capped at $3,000 per day and $50,000 per month in stablecoin transfers.

Platforms that fully comply with Travel Rule requirements—such as collecting full identity details for both senders and recipients—will be allowed to offer double the limit thresholds.

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek emphasized that the intent is to curb illegal activity without hampering lawful crypto use. “Left-wing space for legitimate crypto asset activities will be maintained,” he told AA.

Şimşek also warned that platforms failing to comply with the new rules could face serious consequences. “In addition to administrative sanctions, various legal and financial sanctions, including denial of license or cancellation, may be imposed on platforms that do not comply with the new regulations,” he said.

Certain types of transfers, such as those for liquidity provision, market making, and arbitrage, will be exempt from the imposed limits—provided users can prove the source of funds and platforms monitor them accordingly.

The proposed measures represent one of Turkey’s most significant efforts to align its crypto regulations with international norms, including the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.

Earlier in March, the Capital Markets Board (CMB) of Turkey introduced a licensing and operational framework for CASPs. The new rules give the CMB full regulatory control over exchanges, wallet providers, and custodians—bringing the national regulatory environment in line with global standards.

The framework also sets strict criteria for operating a CASP in Turkey, including background checks for executives, shareholder structure requirements, and minimum capital thresholds. Crypto exchanges must hold at least $4.1 million in capital, while custodians are required to maintain a minimum of $13.7 million.