#YapıKredi , one of #Turkey 's most established and largest banks, is making a historic entrance into the world of digital finance. The bank has officially launched a cryptocurrency trading platform through its subsidiary, Yapı Kredi Financial Technologies Inc.
Cryptocurrency Exchange Plan Officialized: Notified to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP)
A statement made to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) on July 11, 2025, announced plans to establish a new platform within Yapı Kredi Financial Technologies Inc. to conduct cryptocurrency trading activities. It emphasized that all necessary legal permits must be obtained for this platform to commence operations.
One of the most striking details in the statement was that Yapı Kredi Financial Technologies Inc. will increase its capital by up to 1.185 billion Turkish Lira to meet its capital needs.
Official Statement: Bank's Board of Directors Grants Authorization
Yapı Kredi's statement to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) included the following:
"The Bank's Board of Directors has decided to participate in capital increases of Yapı Kredi Financial Technologies Inc., a company whose capital is fully owned by our Bank, up to a total of 1,185,000,000 TL, to be established by March 26, 2026, to meet the capital needs of the company planned to operate as a crypto asset trading platform, subject to the receipt of the relevant permits. The General Directorate will be authorized to handle all necessary applications and transactions."
The statement concluded by emphasizing that developments will be shared with investors transparently.
First Signal Given in November 2024: Application for Custody Services
Yapı Kredi's interest in the crypto world is not new. In November 2024, the bank officially applied to the Capital Markets Board (CMB) to provide custody services for cryptocurrencies. This move was considered the first signal that the bank had serious plans for digital assets.
Now, this plan is being implemented on a much broader scale: the aim is to establish a direct crypto trading platform, bridging the gap between banking and blockchain technologies.
Could This Be a First in Turkey?
If the project is completed and the platform is activated with the necessary permissions, Yapı Kredi will have launched the first crypto trading platform directly affiliated with the bank in Turkey. This demonstrates that the boundaries between traditional finance and the crypto world are rapidly disappearing.
While some banks in Turkey have previously made indirect connections to crypto through fintech companies, this step by Yapı Kredi signals a direct and ambitious strategy.
How Did It Resonate with the Sector?
Yapı Kredi's move has been met with great interest from both the crypto ecosystem and the traditional finance sector. Experts state that in a country like Turkey, with a young population and a high rate of crypto adoption, an increase in such moves is inevitable.
This development will attract not only individual investors; It also has the potential to impact corporate financial structures, regulatory authorities, and crypto initiatives.
Conclusion: Banks Are Now on the Field!
This step taken by Yapı Kredi demonstrates that the Turkish banking sector is not only monitoring the crypto world but has begun directly building it. With the completion of the necessary regulatory processes, the legitimacy of digital assets will be further enhanced with the launch of the first bank-affiliated crypto platform to operate in Turkey.
In the coming period, it will be necessary to closely monitor the impact of this step on the sector and similar moves by other banks.
