The recent Istanbul Blockchain Week (IBW 2025) saw TRON stepping into the spotlight as a gold sponsor, providing substantial support for one of Turkey’s most influential Web3 events. Now in its fourth year, IBW has attracted over 8,000 participants and 180+ global speakers since its inception. By sponsoring this event, TRON aims to further empower Turkey’s blockchain ecosystem, deepen its connections within the Middle Eastern Web3 market, and extend its global strategic reach.
As a key builder in the Web3 space, TRON has consistently supported high-quality industry conferences and events. Since early 2025, TRON has sponsored several major gatherings, including Consensus Hong Kong 2025, CUBE Summit, TEAMZ Summit 2025, Hong Kong Crypto Finance Forum 2025, and TOKEN 2049 Dubai. Supporting such events aligns with TRON’s mission to foster global blockchain adoption and innovation.
Turkey Ranks as the Fourth-Largest Crypto Market Globally
Web3’s influence is expanding rapidly worldwide, with emerging economies like Turkey showing particularly high levels of openness and adoption.
According to industry reports, Turkey is now the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency trading market, trailing only the United States, India, and the United Kingdom. This is especially notable given Turkey’s smaller population and economy relative to these countries. Data also shows that around 40% of Turks have invested in crypto assets, with 64% predicting rising prices and 73% expecting widespread adoption within five years.
There is little doubt that Turkey, bridging Europe and Asia, has become a critical hub in the Web3 world. This status has created strong demand among Turkish professionals and investors to integrate with global crypto trends—leading to the rise of events like Istanbul Blockchain Week. Regulatory developments are also advancing; since late last year, the Capital Markets Board of Turkey (CMB) has moved to incorporate crypto assets into its legislative framework. Against this backdrop, IBW 2025 carries even greater significance, as does TRON’s role as a gold sponsor.
It’s worth noting that TRON’s presence in Turkey isn’t new. The blockchain platform laid the groundwork much earlier through a series of strategic moves. In 2023, TRON was a diamond sponsor at Binance Blockchain Week in Istanbul. The following year, it entered a strategic partnership with the Turkish exchange Bitci, which subsequently listed TRX, BTT, JUST, SUN, and other tokens native to the TRON ecosystem. These long-term investments have been crucial in establishing TRON’s strong standing in the Turkish market.
Nearly Every Turkish Crypto User Relies on TRC-20 USDT
Turkey has faced significant currency devaluation and economic volatility in recent years, leading many citizens to turn to crypto assets—particularly stablecoins—as safe-haven instruments. This has driven a surge in stablecoin demand, crypto payments, and trading volumes.
TRC-20 USDT, the version of Tether stablecoin operating on the TRON network, has emerged as the preferred choice for most Turkish users. Its ultra-low transaction fees, near-instant confirmation times, high stability, and powerful network effects have made it a cornerstone of Turkey’s crypto payment and transfer ecosystem.
In November 2023, TRON announced a strategic partnership with crypto payment infrastructure provider Pundi X. The collaboration integrated TRON-based tokens like TRX and USDT into Pundi X’s offline payment terminals, known as XPOS devices, enabling users to pay for everyday retail purchases using cryptocurrency.
During a live demonstration, Hakan Akyüz, Pundi X’s Regional Manager for Turkey, showed how seamless TRC-20 transactions can be—comparable to conventional digital payments. He stated, “Almost every crypto user in Turkey uses TRC-20 USDT.” After integrating the TRON network, user activity on Pundi XPOS devices surged by 47%. vendors also reported that once TRON was integrated, nearly all customers switched to it due to its low cost and high speed. Akyüz also highlighted that Turkey is home to over 30 million expatriates, many of whom increasingly rely on TRC-20 USDT for cross-border remittances due to its convenience.
A similar trend is underway in Argentina, another emerging economy embracing Web3 technologies. According to reports, one online merchant in Buenos Aires noted that “about 95% of customers choose to pay with TRC-20 USDT.” In late April, Kripton, a major Argentine e-commerce platform, integrated the TRC-20 network, allowing more than 2,000 merchants to accept USDT as a primary digital dollar payment method via the TRON blockchain.
Brazil, another key market in Latin America, has also welcomed TRON openly. In January, Mercado Bitcoin, the country’s largest crypto exchange, listed TRX. Over the following two weeks, it also added BTT, USDD, JST, and SUN—further boosting the adoption of TRC-20 standards and related technologies across Brazil. Beyond the Americas, TRON’s influence is also growing in other high-potential regions like India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Vietnam, bringing the platform closer to its goal of becoming a global payment infrastructure network.
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TRON and Turkey: A Mutually Beneficial Partnership
Aligned with Turkey’s dynamic Web3 growth, TRON plans to further expand its presence in the country by providing resources and ecological support for local developers and high-quality projects. This effort is expected to contribute to the sustained growth of the crypto asset market in Turkey and the broader Middle East.
At IBW 2025, TRON was one of the most prominent participants. Beyond financial support and high visibility, the TRON booth attracted over 5,000 visitors, becoming a central hub of activity. A large LED screen displayed the latest developments within the TRON ecosystem, while interactive sessions allowed newcomers to experience TRC-20 transfers firsthand. Many were impressed by the near-instant transaction speeds and minimal fees.
The booth also drew attention from key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the blockchain space, who shared their experiences across social media platforms. Over a hundred posts were published, generating significant online and offline engagement. These KOLs—including blockchain experts, crypto investors, and local tech influencers—highlighted TRON’s technological capabilities and its commitment to the Turkish market. Discussions around TRON’s participation garnered millions of impressions on platform X, significantly boosting brand awareness across the region.
Another aspect of TRON’s engagement in Turkey deserves mention: its humanitarian efforts. After the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake in 2023, Justin Sun, representing TRON, donated 1 million lira through HTX to support recovery efforts. This act inspired other industry leaders—including Binance, Tether, and Avalanche—to contribute, painting a compassionate picture of the Web3 community and strengthening emotional ties between crypto technology and the Turkish people.
From TRON’s perspective, Turkey represents not only a promising Web3 market but also a strategic gateway between Europe and Asia. Its sponsorship of IBW is more than a marketing move—it’s a step toward long-term mutual growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Turkey an important market for cryptocurrency?
Turkey ranks as the fourth-largest crypto trading market globally, with high adoption rates driven by economic factors like currency instability. Around 40% of the population has invested in crypto, making it a strategic region for blockchain companies.
What makes TRC-20 USDT so popular in Turkey?
TRC-20 USDT offers extremely low fees, fast transaction confirmations, and high stability. These features make it ideal for daily payments and cross-border remittances, especially in a volatile economic environment.
How did TRON support the Turkish community beyond business?
Following the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake, TRON made a significant donation to relief efforts. This humanitarian aid helped strengthen trust and recognition between the crypto community and the Turkish public.
What kind of events does TRON sponsor?
TRON sponsors high-profile Web3 events worldwide, including Consensus, TOKEN 2049, and various regional summits. These sponsorships aim to foster innovation, collaboration, and adoption of blockchain technology.
Which countries are adopting TRON-based assets?
Besides Turkey, countries like Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria are increasingly using TRON-based tokens for payments and trading, supported by partnerships with local exchanges and payment platforms.
How can users experience TRON’s technology?
Users can interact with the TRON network through supported wallets, exchanges, and payment systems. 👉 Learn how to get started with low-cost transfers