Turski kriptobum potaknut špekulacijama
Turkey has emerged in 2025 as the clear leader of the crypto market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. According to a new report by Chainalysis, local transactions reached nearly $200 billion annually, surpassing even the United Arab Emirates. However, the surge is driven more by speculative trading than by genuine blockchain adoption.
Speculation over adoption
While the UAE is increasingly using cryptocurrencies for practical payments, Turkey’s market is fueled primarily by the pursuit of quick profits. The surge has been led by trading in altcoins, or alternative cryptocurrencies outside of bitcoin.
Data shows that the 31-day moving average of altcoin trading volume jumped from around $50 million at the end of 2024 to $240 million by mid-2025. This marks a sharp shift from previous years, when Turkish investors favored stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar.
The daily stablecoin trading volume dropped dramatically—from over $200 million at the end of 2024 to around $70 million by mid-2025. Chainalysis links this to wider economic pressures across the region, describing it as a sign of “desperate yield-seeking” among remaining investors.
Institutional dominance
The report also notes that institutional transactions now dominate Turkey’s crypto market, while retail investor activity has plummeted. Despite high inflation and economic uncertainty driving interest in cryptocurrency as a hedge, ordinary Turks have limited means to invest.
MENA region lags behind
Despite Turkey’s impressive performance, the MENA region still trails globally. Chainalysis reports that the regional market grew by 33% year-over-year—far less than other parts of the world.
The fastest-growing regions are Asia-Pacific (APAC) with 69% growth and Latin America with 63%. Sub-Saharan Africa (55%), North America (50%), and Europe (43%) also outperformed MENA.
India and the U.S. lead
Globally, India remains the world’s largest crypto market for the third consecutive year, followed by the United States. While Turkey leads within MENA, its dominance rests on speculation rather than long-term infrastructure or mass adoption.
Sources:
https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/middle-east-north-africa-crypto-adoption-2025/