Are Binance, Bybit, and OKX SPK-licensed in Turkey?

No. As of 2026-11-03, Turkey's Capital Markets Board (SPK) has not issued what most people picture as an "exchange license." Binance, Bybit, and OKX all appear on SPK's public list of crypto-asset companies that declared they will keep operating under a temporary legal rule^†††. But SPK itself says that listing is not the same as a licence. Calling any of them "SPK licensed" is not accurate right now.

Is there an "SPK-licensed" list for crypto exchanges?

Not exactly. Searches for "spk lisanslı kripto borsaları" usually land on SPK's page titled "Faaliyette Bulunanlar Listesi" (active operators list), at spk.gov.tr. We opened this page directly on 2026-11-03.

This list has a narrow legal basis. It covers organizations that declared, under the temporary article 11 (geçici madde 11) of Capital Markets Law No. 6362, that they will keep operating while SPK finishes building a full licensing regime. Turkey brought crypto-asset service providers under SPK's oversight through amendments to that law, part of a 2024 reform package. That's the background law. The active-operators list is a transitional step, not a finished licensing decision.

The page lists 49 organizations as of this check^†. That group mixes domestic platforms, a handful of Turkish banks listed under a separate custody category (Saklama Başvurusu, not the trading category), and some international brands. This article only covers the three exchanges this site reviews: Binance, Bybit, and OKX.

What does SPK's active-operators list actually show for Binance, Bybit, and OKX?

Here is what the SPK page states for each exchange, quoted as close to the source wording as possible.

This table reflects SPK's Faaliyette Bulunanlar Listesi, checked 2026-11-03.

All three sit in the "Alım Satım Platformu" category, the same bucket used for trading platforms rather than custody providers. That's one reason people searching "binance türkiye'de yasal mı" or "bybit türkiye'de yasal mı" find this page and assume it settles the question. It doesn't, fully. Keep reading.

Outside Turkey, each exchange separately holds approvals that have nothing to do with this list. Binance's global entity is registered with the ADGM's FSRA in Abu Dhabi^†. Bybit's EU entity holds a MiCA authorization from Austria's FMA^†. OKX's EU entity holds a full MiCA licence from Malta's MFSA^†. None of those cover Turkey. They just show each company has been through licensing somewhere else.

What doesn't "being on the list" mean?

SPK's own disclaimer on the page is the part most readers skip. In plain terms: appearing on the active-operators list does not mean the organization has been licensed under the relevant law^†. The list exists to publish which companies declared they would keep running during the transition period. It is not SPK confirming anyone passed a licensing review.

So "on the list" and "licensed" are two different facts. Binance, Bybit, and OKX cleared the step of declaring themselves under geçici madde 11. None of them has a confirmed, finished SPK license as of this check. This matters if you're deciding who to trust based on paperwork, not marketing.

How do you check this yourself on spk.gov.tr?

Don't take any site's word for this, ours included. Here's the short version:

1. Open SPK's active-operators list directly.
2. Search the page for the exchange's Turkish legal entity name, not its global brand name.
3. Read the category column. "Alım Satım Platformu" means trading platform. "Saklama Başvurusu" means a custody application, a different thing entirely.
4. Scroll to the disclaimer text near the list and read it in full before you draw a conclusion.
5. Write down the date you checked and the exact URL. Government lists like this change without much notice, so a dated note beats a memory of "I checked once a while back."

Is Binance legal in Turkey? Is Bybit legal in Turkey?

Here's the direct answer: trading crypto in Turkey is legal for individuals (kripto para türkiye'de yasal mı, answered simply, is yes for personal trading). What's regulated is the service providers, meaning exchanges, not the act of holding or trading crypto itself. Binance, Bybit, and OKX are all operating in Turkey today, and all three declared themselves under SPK's temporary rule. None currently holds a finished SPK license, based on what the active-operators page itself says.

That's narrower than "yes, fully licensed" or "no, banned." Operating and declared. Not licensed yet.

Common mistakes

• Reading "on SPK's list" as "SPK approved." SPK's own disclaimer contradicts that reading.
• Assuming a well-known global brand must already be licensed somewhere, just because the name is familiar. That gap between checking a source and trusting a name is the same line that separates an investor's habits from a gambler's: one verifies first, the other assumes. Apply that habit to licensing claims, not only to trades.
• Mixing up "Alım Satım Platformu" (trading platform) with "Saklama Başvurusu" (custody application). They're different categories with different requirements.
• Citing a blog or forum post instead of the SPK page itself, since this list can be updated.
• Treating any exchange's security record as settled and final just because a licensing question is settled (or isn't). Licensing status and security status are two separate questions. For Binance specifically, see our continuously-updated Binance security incident tracker before assuming today's status — being on SPK's active-operators list says nothing about that, and it does not mean Binance is risk-free.

What should you compare beyond the SPK list?

If a license status that doesn't exist yet isn't the deciding factor for you, fees and security track record usually matter more day to day.

A quick fee example: trading 1,000 USDT at the taker rate costs 1,000 x 0.1% = 1 USDT on Binance^† or Bybit^†, and the same 1,000 x 0.1% = 1 USDT on OKX^†, since all three share that taker rate at the base tier. Maker orders differ: a 1,000 USDT maker order costs 1,000 x 0.08% = 0.80 USDT on OKX^†, against 1,000 x 0.1% = 1 USDT on Binance^† or Bybit^†.

Full reviews: Binance review, Bybit review, OKX review. Side-by-side: Bybit vs OKX.

For the broader picture of which exchanges operate in Turkey and how they compare on trust, see crypto exchanges in Turkey and the most trusted crypto exchange in Turkey. Our scoring process is on the methodology page.

FAQ

Is Binance legal in Turkey?

Binance operates in Turkey, and its local entity, Binance Turkey Kripto Varlık Alım Satım Platformu AŞ, is on SPK's active-operators list (item #4, checked 2026-11-03)^†. That listing is not an SPK licence, per SPK's own disclaimer.

Is Bybit legal in Turkey?

Bybit operates in Turkey too. Bybit Kripto Varlık Alım Satım Platformu AŞ sits on the same list (item #10, checked 2026-11-03)^†. Same caveat: listed, not licensed.

Is crypto legal in Turkey?

Yes, individuals can legally buy and hold crypto in Turkey. SPK's oversight targets the service providers, the exchanges, not personal ownership.

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RISK: Crypto assets are volatile and unregulated in many jurisdictions. Not financial advice.

Updated 2026-11-03.