In recent years, the popularity of stablecoins has increased cryptocurrency payments, and many global companies have adopted new payment methods.
Despite the trend, Encrypted payment For retail users in multiple countries, including China,,,,, Indonesia,,,,, Russia,,,,, turkey There are others.
Nevertheless, while domestic cryptocurrency payments may be prohibited in these jurisdictions, the use of cryptocurrency to pay for foreign services may be legally permitted.
“As a general rule, the law of a country only applies to events that occur in that country or its own citizens,” said Meric Paldimoglu, a Turkish lawyer and managing partner at Paldimoglu Law Firm.
Can Russian and Turkish residents pay for foreign services in cryptocurrency?
In early June 2025, Georgian travel company Tripzy began accepting USDT payments from Tether (USDT) Through the CityPay infrastructure Stablecoin, international customers are allowed to use the Stablecoin reservation service.
“We are starting to accept cryptocurrencies, providing customers with more freedom and convenience,” a Tripzy spokesman told Cointelegraph. The spokesman added: “This is especially important with guests from countries with currency restrictions or countries that only value transaction speed.”
Given that Georgia relies heavily on tourism in countries such as Russia and Türkiye (which restricts cryptocurrencies among residents), this new feature raises questions about the legitimacy of cross-border payments for travelers in these jurisdictions.
However, there is no explicit law that prohibits foreign payments using cryptocurrencies.
Yuriy Brisov, founder of D&A Cryptomap, told Cointelegraph: “Russian Federation Law No. 259 regarding payments for digital financial assets have never prohibited the use of cryptocurrencies for payments outside of Russia.” At present, Russian law only prohibits residents from accepting cryptocurrencies specifically.
Paldimoglu shares similar views while addressing issues related to Turkish law.
Related: sHopify can access USDC Stablecoin payment in advance on the basis of
“Turkish law does not apply when Turkish citizens are from a company store abroad,” the lawyer said. He said the regulations on the abolition of crypto assets in payments apply specifically to licensed payments and electronic currency institutions operating in Turkey.
He added: “So it is legal for Turkish citizens to shop on foreign websites and I don’t think that will cause any problems between Georgia and Türkiye.”
Overlapping regulation puts flags for global authorities
According to Brisov, while there is no new clear conflict between jurisdictions that allow payments by cryptocurrency and jurisdictions that do not pay, such regulatory overlap is more likely to attract the attention of global authorities.
“If Georgian companies like Tripzy start accepting cryptocurrencies from Russian tourists, this could be considered a loophole in Brussels,” he said.
“If Tripzy sells only travel to Georgia or other countries that do not impose or support Russian sanctions, it will be fully compliant. However, if Georgia becomes the gateway to the world for Russian currency, it will face international pressure and must choose one side.”
Related: BIS says Stablecoins fails, requiring strict restrictions on its role
Brisvey suggested that a single travel agency may not trigger any sanctions from European authorities. Nevertheless, if patterns arise, the reaction may escalate—not from Russia, but from a global system that enforces compliance.
FATF warns of increasing illegal and stable use
Brisov’s speech and the Working Group on Financial Action (FATF) recently warned that stablecoins have an increasing role in promoting illegal transactions.
“Since 2024, illegal actors and terrorist financiers have been used by illegal actors (including the People’s Republic of Korea), most of which involve illegal activities of Stablecoins,” FATF statement In the latest news, anti-money laundering (AML) measures in cryptocurrencies.
The agency also provided detailed reports on various AML measures taken by FATF member states and other jurisdictions and committed to providing targeted reports on Stablecoins in the first quarter of 2026.
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