Turkish crypto exchange halts trading amid reports of police raid

Major Turkish cryptocurrency exchange Thodex has abruptly halted trading and withdrawals amid reports of police raids, Cointelegraph Turkey reported on Thursday.

Thodex posted an official announcement on Twitter on Thursday, informing users that it has halted transactions for a period of four to five days. According to a statement, the platform stopped trading and withdrawals due to a purported partnership with “world-renowned banks and funding companies” to improve its services.

Thodex said that its clients should not be worried about their investments, stating that “users will be informed regularly” during the suspension period. The exchange had previously announced a six-hour-long maintenance break on Tuesday.

The abrupt suspension of trading and withdrawals has concerned the crypto community, as the exchange has gone radio silent since announcing the interruption.

Local publications speculated that the suspension could be part of an exit scam amid reports that the company’s founder, Faruk Fatih Özer, has fled to Thailand with $2 billion worth of crypto. The founder allegedly left Istanbul Airport on Tuesday, while local authorities have launched a criminal investigation against the firm and raided Thodex’s offices.

Thodex did not respond to Cointelegraph’s requests for comment.

The news comes amid a new wave of concern over the Turkish government’s stance on cryptocurrency regulation. The country’s central bank officially announced a ban on crypto payments effective as of April 30. 

Additional reporting by Erhan Kahraman and Ayse Karaman.