Recent data reveals that more than 52% of Turkish adults aged 18-60 now own cryptocurrencies, marking a substantial increase from the 40% reported in November 2021.

Key Insights:

  1. Crypto Adoption on the Rise:

    • As of May 2023, over half of Turkish adults are crypto owners.

    • This marks significant growth from 40% in November 2021.

  2. Motivations for Investment:

    • 58% of Turkish crypto users see crypto as a means to accumulate long-term wealth.

    • 37% view crypto as a store of value due to rapid Turkish Lira inflation, with the currency losing over 50% of its value against the US dollar.

  3. Demographic Trends:

    • Notably, young women aged 18-30 show substantial interest in crypto, with 47% of female crypto investors falling in this age group.

    • Word-of-mouth recommendations play a crucial role, with 57% of individuals learning about crypto from friends and family.

  4. Crypto Use Cases:

    • The majority (70%) of crypto users in Turkey engage in cryptocurrency trading.

    • Additionally, 22% invest in Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

    • 19% hold or stake their crypto assets.

    • 14% use cryptocurrencies for gifting purposes.

    • 13% utilize crypto for peer-to-peer transfers and remittances.

    • 8% donate in cryptocurrencies to non-profit organizations.

  5. Government's Stance:

    • Turkey is exploring the development of a central bank digital currency known as the Digital Lira.

    • The Central Bank is actively implementing tighter monetary policies to combat inflation.

The cryptocurrency landscape in Turkey is evolving rapidly, driven by a combination of wealth accumulation goals, economic concerns, and a growing interest among young demographics, particularly women. Additionally, the government's engagement in digital currency experiments and monetary policy adjustments are contributing factors to this trend.