Egypt vs Turkey
Crypto regulation comparison
Egypt
Turkey
Egypt heavily restricts cryptocurrency. The Central Bank of Egypt prohibits banks from dealing in or facilitating crypto transactions, and a 2018 Dar al-Ifta fatwa declared crypto trading haram. However, Egypt's 2020 banking law created a framework that could eventually allow regulated crypto under CBE licensing.
Turkey has one of the highest crypto adoption rates globally, driven by lira depreciation and high inflation. While crypto ownership is legal, the CBRT banned crypto payments in April 2021. In 2024, Turkey passed comprehensive crypto legislation under the Capital Markets Law amendment, giving the CMB authority to license and regulate crypto asset service providers. No crypto-specific tax exists yet, though legislation is under consideration. MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) oversees AML compliance.
Key Points
- CBE prohibits banks and financial institutions from dealing in cryptocurrency
- Dar al-Ifta issued a 2018 religious ruling (fatwa) against crypto trading
- 2020 Central Bank and Banking Sector Law requires CBE approval for any crypto activity
- Creating or operating a crypto platform without CBE license is illegal
- Despite restrictions, Egypt has significant peer-to-peer crypto activity
Key Points
- 2024 Capital Markets Law amendment gives CMB authority to license crypto platforms
- CBRT banned the use of crypto assets for payments in April 2021
- No crypto-specific tax currently; capital gains tax legislation under discussion
- MASAK enforces AML/KYC requirements on crypto platforms
- Turkey ranks among top 5 globally for crypto adoption (driven by lira depreciation)