Turkey’s AK Party Submits Landmark Bill to Regulate Crypto Market and Introduce Service Provider Levies

Turkey's AK Party submits a bill to regulate the crypto market, requiring SPK licenses and a 2% revenue levy on service providers to fund oversight.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 2, 2026, 7:21 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Channel News Asia

Formalizing the Digital Asset Landscape

Turkey’s ruling AK Party has taken a definitive step toward regulating one of the world’s most active cryptocurrency markets. On May 16, 2024, AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler announced the submission of the "Bill on Amendments to the Capital Markets Law" to the Grand National Assembly. The legislation provides the first comprehensive legal definitions for "crypto assets," "wallets," and "service providers" in Turkish law, moving the industry away from its currently unregulated status and into a structured financial framework.

Licensing and Oversight by the SPK

A central pillar of the bill is the mandatory licensing of Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs). Under the proposed rules, all platforms operating in Turkey must obtain authorization from the Capital Markets Board (SPK). The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) will oversee the technical infrastructure and information systems of these platforms. This dual-layer oversight is designed to mitigate risks such as fraud, cyberattacks, and operational misconduct, ensuring that Turkish investors are protected by standards similar to those in traditional capital markets.

Revenue Levies to Support National Research

While the bill does not immediately impose a direct capital gains tax on individual investors, it introduces significant financial obligations for trading platforms. Specifically, crypto asset service providers will be required to pay an annual fee equivalent to 2% of their total revenues (excluding interest).