Ripple has identified Turkey as a critical growth market, with a top executive declaring the blockchain payments company "extremely bullish" on the country's potential. Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, characterized Turkey as a global crypto leader driven by economic necessity.
Staggering adoption metrics underpin this optimism. Merrick cited data showing that roughly 25.6% of the Turkish population owns cryptocurrency, with adoption soaring to 52% among adults aged 18 to 60. He noted that Turkey facilitated nearly $200 billion in annual crypto transactions in 2025, a volume that "dwarfs the rest of the region," according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.
The driving force behind this adoption is Turkey's precarious macroeconomic environment, marked by severe devaluation of the lira and high inflation. "Driven by inflation hedging and value preservation, we’re seeing a clear shift toward practical utility in emerging markets like Türkiye," Merrick stated. This sets Turkey apart from markets like the US, where crypto is often treated as a speculative investment.
Ripple's strategy centers on its newly launched RLUSD stablecoin. Merrick emphasized that "Stablecoins like RLUSD will play a vital role as a stable USD alternative amid lira volatility, supporting cross-border payments and financial resilience." The company is already working with several traditional financial players in Turkey to integrate RLUSD and its RippleNet services, aiming to modernize remittances and international trade finance.
This partnership-focused approach is designed to integrate blockchain technology into existing financial workflows, reducing friction for users. Ripple's expansion plan leverages Turkey's position as a major remittance hub and its evolving regulatory landscape, positioning the country as a potential blueprint for blockchain integration in other emerging economies.
