Ripple announced its USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD is now available in Turkey through partnerships with Bilira, Bitexen, and Bitlo. The move provides institutions regulated access to digital dollars for payments, liquidity, collateral management, and tokenization. Turkey represents one of the region's most active crypto markets, with roughly $200 billion in annual transaction volume in 2025, according to Ripple.
Ripple Partners With Bilira, Bitexen, and Bitlo to Launch RLUSD in Turkey
Ripple said RLUSD is now available in Turkey through Bilira, Bitexen, and Bitlo. Bilira is a Turkish stablecoin and crypto infrastructure platform, while Bitexen and Bitlo are local digital asset exchanges. The integration gives institutions regulated access to digital dollars for enterprise use cases including payments, liquidity, collateral management, and tokenization.
Since its 2024 launch, RLUSD has reached $1.7 billion in market capitalization. RLUSD is built for businesses and institutions, providing a stable, regulated settlement asset for cross-border transactions, hedging, and treasury management.
Jack McDonald, SVP of Stablecoins at Ripple, stated: "RLUSD has rapidly gained traction in financial use cases, serving as a vital bridge for payments, tokenization, and collateral management."
Turkey Crypto Market Reaches $200 Billion Annual Volume in 2025
Turkey is a major crypto market in MENA, with roughly $200 billion in annual transaction volume in 2025. Ripple executive Reece Merrick highlighted that Turkey's crypto activity is four times larger than the UAE's. Chainalysis ranked Turkey as the region's top crypto market in its 2025 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report, reflecting broad retail and institutional participation shaped by inflation and currency pressures.
The Capital Markets Board (CMB), Turkey's financial regulatory authority overseeing securities and digital asset operations, introduced a 2024 licensing framework providing rules for digital asset firms. The framework allows local exchanges and infrastructure providers to integrate stablecoins compliantly.
By embedding RLUSD into established Turkish platforms, Ripple positions the USD-backed stablecoin as a regulated bridge for payments, liquidity management, collateral, and hedging against market volatility.
Bilira emphasized regulatory integrity, Bitexen highlighted connections across the Middle East, South Africa, and Europe, and Bitlo framed RLUSD as a tool for wealth management and volatility protection. These partnerships allow Ripple to embed its stablecoin directly into local financial rails, offering regulated dollar exposure for enterprise clients.
Mustafa Alpay, CEO at Bitlo, noted: "By integrating a regulated, enterprise-grade stablecoin like RLUSD, we're providing our customers with the highest standard of digital dollars for enterprise needs."
Ripple Operates Middle East Headquarters From Dubai International Financial Centre
The Turkish launch builds on Ripple's broader Middle East presence. The company operates its regional headquarters from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and has secured approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide regulated crypto payment services in the UAE.
More than 20% of Ripple's global customers are now in the Middle East. Together with the Turkish rollout of RLUSD, these milestones reflect a strategy to expand regulated stablecoin adoption in high-growth crypto markets while providing enterprises with secure, compliant digital-dollar infrastructure.
FAQ
What did Ripple announce in Turkey?
Ripple announced RLUSD is now available in Turkey through partnerships with Bilira, Bitexen, and Bitlo, providing institutions regulated access to digital dollars for payments, liquidity, collateral management, and tokenization.
How large is Turkey's crypto market in 2025?
Turkey's crypto market has roughly $200 billion in annual transaction volume in 2025, according to Ripple. Chainalysis ranked Turkey as the top crypto market in MENA in its 2025 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report.
Where does Ripple operate its Middle East headquarters?
Ripple operates its regional headquarters from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and has secured approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide regulated crypto payment services in the UAE.
