Cryptocurrencies

Turkey’s Cryptomania Hits Home With Losses, Arrests, Manhunt

  • BTCTurk to establish custodian firm to safeguard client assets
  • Thodex founder and CEO Faruk Fatih Ozer remains on the run
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Cryptocurrency mania is getting a wake-up call in Turkey after two local exchanges crumbled in the space of a few days.

The collapse of Thodex and Vebitcoin has triggered a manhunt for one of the exchange founders, led to dozens of arrests and inflicted untold losses on ordinary Turks. In the wake of a pledge last week by the central bank to tighten regulations surrounding cryptocurrencies, one Istanbul-based exchange said Monday it will establish a custodian firm to reassure investors.