Crypto: Turkey Interrogates 150 People and Tracks $400 Million in Suspicious Flows

Three prosecutors, one directive. Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced simultaneous operations by prosecutors in Ankara, Istanbul, and Edirne. These operations target illegal betting networks and structures he describes as "new generation criminal organizations". In total, investigators have detained 150 individuals.

The Ankara branch focuses on the largest amounts. The MASAK has identified over 21.3 billion Turkish lira in suspicious operations there, approximately $400 million. Part of these flows is believed to have passed through companies and then through digital asset transfers.

Key Points

• Three coordinated investigations by the prosecutors of Ankara, Istanbul, and Edirne have led to 150 arrests.
• In the Ankara case, financial intelligence estimates the suspicious movements at 21.3 billion lira, around $400 million.
• Justice has placed twenty-three companies under administration.
• In Edirne, one billion lira circulated in thirty days through simple bank accounts, without digital assets.

Illegal Betting and Crypto: 150 Detentions in Turkey

Ankara initially concentrates most of the operations, with searches in 18 provinces targeting 79 suspects and 23 companies. Investigators are examining providers suspected of supplying software and call centers to betting sites. They are also tracing the revenue flow, which was directed towards company accounts before being converted into digital assets. Police have arrested fifty-five individuals. Twenty-four others remain wanted. As for the 23 targeted companies, justice has placed them under administration.

The second aspect changes in nature. The Istanbul prosecutor's office is leading this part. It concerns recruitments made via social networks. Recruits were then moved to messaging groups, where they were directed towards criminal acts. The operation covered 30 provinces and targeted 100 individuals, including 34 minors already involved in legal proceedings. Of this total, 87 individuals ended up in custody, including 31 minors. Thirteen individuals remain wanted.

In Edirne, the mechanism is much simpler. The suspects' bank accounts recorded one billion lira in movements over the last month, amounting to around twenty million dollars. The investigation targeted twelve individuals across five provinces, with eight ending up in custody. ![Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced simultaneous operations conducted by prosecutors in Ankara, Istanbul, and Edirne against illegal betting networks and structures he describes as "new generation criminal organizations". One hundred and fifty individuals have been detained.

The Ankara branch focuses on the largest amounts. The MASAK has identified 21.319 billion Turkish lira in suspicious operations, approximately $400 million. Part of these flows is believed to have passed through companies and then through digital asset transfers.](https://journalducoin-com.exactdn.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Turquie-arnaque-operation-police-justice.png?strip=all&quality=90&webp=90&lazy=1) ![Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced simultaneous operations conducted by prosecutors in Ankara, Istanbul, and Edirne against illegal betting networks and structures he describes as "new generation criminal organizations". One hundred and fifty individuals have been detained.

The Ankara branch focuses on the largest amounts. The MASAK has identified 21.319 billion Turkish lira in suspicious operations, approximately $400 million. Part of these flows is believed to have passed through companies and then through digital asset transfers.](https://public.chaincatcher.com/upload/news/202610/eed803a1c60f4bdcb534f919a2e44caa.png) The minister communicates directly on social media -- Source: X Account

Why MASAK Tracks Crypto Transfers in Turkey

Since its establishment in 1997, MASAK has centralized suspicion declarations from financial institutions. This obligation now weighs equally on banks and licensed crypto platforms. Since 2025, the Turkish Capital Markets Authority (SPK) has been issuing these licenses, following the law of July 2024. This legislation has brought digital asset service providers into the regulated perimeter.

The Ministry of Finance followed up in June 2025 with a framework targeting illegal betting. Each crypto transfer must now include a reason of at least twenty characters. Otherwise, the withdrawal faces a 48-hour delay. Daily and monthly limits govern stablecoin transfers. However, the thresholds increase for platforms that fully implement the travel rule.

Moreover, Turkey's demand for stablecoins is significant. Chainalysis ranks the country first globally for stablecoin purchases relative to GDP, around 4% over one year. No other emerging market approaches this ratio. Inflation remains in double digits, and the lira has lost over 80% of its value against the dollar in five years. Turks are thus building a safety net in synthetic dollars.

Bank accounts, however, remain the dominant channel for these networks. In Edirne, the billion lira identified in thirty days circulated entirely within the banking system. No digital assets are involved in this case.

Forty-one individuals are still wanted: 24 in the Ankara case, 13 in the Istanbul case, and 4 in Edirne. The administrators of the 23 seized companies will need to establish what portion of the 21.3 billion lira actually passed through digital assets.

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