Peter Smith
Turkiye has quietly become one of the world's most active crypto markets. Around 25.6% of the population already holds digital assets, and transaction volumes are closing in on $200 billion for 2025. According to reporting by Reece Merrick, ownership among adults aged 18-60 could reach roughly 52% - a figure that points to something deeper than casual speculation. Chainalysis data confirms that Turkiye is outpacing every other market in the MENA region by a significant margin, making it a case study in how economic pressure can reshape financial behavior at scale.
The driver behind this surge isn't hard to find. Years of lira volatility have pushed ordinary Turks toward assets that hold value better than their national currency. Bitcoin and XRP have attracted attention, but it's stablecoins that are quietly becoming the practical workhorse - offering a way to park value in dollars without leaving the crypto ecosystem. This pattern isn't unique to Turkiye; it's playing out across emerging markets wherever local currencies face sustained pressure. XRP Launches RLUSD Stablecoin to Secure Position in Trillion-Dollar Market explores how Ripple is positioning itself directly within this trend.
Stablecoins aren't just a hedge - they're becoming the infrastructure for cross-border value transfer in markets where trust in local currency has eroded.
Ripple's RLUSD fits neatly into this picture. A USD-pegged stablecoin built on the XRP Ledger gives users a way to reduce lira exposure while keeping funds accessible for international transfers. It's a practical tool, not just a speculative one. The numbers are backing this up - Ripple USD (RLUSD) Trading Volume Surges 41% Following Kraken Listing, a sign that real demand is building. Meanwhile, the broader XRP Ledger is expanding its footprint, with XRP Ledger Tokenized RWA Value Jumps Toward $2.5B as Activity Expands - reinforcing that this ecosystem is moving well beyond simple crypto transfers.
What's happening in Turkiye is a preview of where digital finance could be headed in economies dealing with currency instability. When nearly a quarter of a country's population turns to crypto not as a bet but as a practical financial tool, that's a structural shift. As stablecoins become easier to use and blockchain infrastructure matures, the line between "crypto adoption" and everyday financial life will keep blurring - and markets like Turkiye will be the ones drawing that new line first.
Peter Smith
