Emre Yumlu 
While stablecoins have become increasingly popular for global payments, many countries still ban domestic crypto usage. Nations like China, Indonesia, Russia, and Turkey have restrictions on local crypto transactions — but legal experts say these bans often don’t extend to payments made abroad.
According to Meric Paldimoglu, founder of Turkey-based Paldimoglu Law Firm, “As a general rule, national laws only apply to actions within that country’s borders or involving its citizens directly.” This opens a gray area for cross-border crypto payments.
Paying in Crypto from Abroad?
In June 2025, Georgian travel agency Tripzy began accepting Tether (USDt) payments via CityPay. The feature was introduced to offer flexibility to travelers, especially those from countries with fiat or crypto restrictions like Russia and Turkey.
Tripzy noted that crypto provides “freedom and speed” in transactions. Legal experts confirm that no current Russian or Turkish laws prohibit residents from using crypto when shopping from foreign businesses.
Russia’s Digital Financial Assets Law only restricts the domestic use of crypto in contracts, while Turkey’s ban is limited to local payment and e-money institutions. Paldimoglu emphasized, “If a Turkish citizen makes a purchase from a foreign website, Turkish regulations do not apply.”
Regulatory Gaps Under Global Scrutiny
Although these legal loopholes don’t directly conflict with international laws, they could attract the attention of global watchdogs like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Analysts warn that if countries like Georgia become crypto payment gateways for residents of restricted regions, this could result in international pressure. While a single company like Tripzy may not trigger sanctions, broader trends could escalate responses — not necessarily from Russia or Turkey, but from global compliance systems.
FATF Raises Red Flags on Stablecoins
FATF has recently highlighted the rising role of stablecoins in illicit finance, pointing to increased use by North Korean actors and terrorist groups. As of 2024, a majority of on-chain illicit transactions involve stablecoins.
The FATF plans to publish a dedicated report on stablecoins in early 2026, underlining its growing focus on anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement in the crypto space.
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