Regulatory evolution, private-law challenges and future legal pathways for crypto-assets in Türkiye

Türkiye enacted a major transformation in its legal framework on crypto-assets through the enactment of Law No. 7518 amending the Capital Markets Law in 2024. While this reform introduced the first comprehensive regulatory structure governing crypto-asset service providers and trading platforms, fundamental questions concerning the legal nature of crypto-assets remain unresolved within Turkish private law. This article examines the evolving legal landscape governing crypto-assets in Türkiye by analysing regulatory developments, scholarly debates and comparative perspectives. It argues that Türkiye has adopted a regulatory model that combines strong financial market supervision with reliance on traditional private-law doctrines to address unresolved issues. While this approach provides regulatory stability in the short run, it also produces structural inconsistencies and uncertainties, particularly in relation to property law, payment systems and taxation. The article concludes by assessing future projections for the regulation of crypto-assets in Türkiye.