Club holds the first transfer in the world in the currency composition

Source:
AFP reported
Date: 30 January 2018

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Turkey's football club has completed its first transfer in the country's history using a digital currency, CNN Turk television reported on Tuesday.

Harun Osta Spor, a local club in the amateur league, signed a contract with Omar Farouk Kiroglo, 22, for a bitcoin in 2,000 pounds ($ 531.70) and 2,500 pounds in cash.

Club president Khaldoun Shahid said the move was the first of its kind for a sports club in Turkey and around the world. "We did this to make a name for ourselves in the country and the world," he said. "We are proud of this."

Bitcoin has developed a very volatile course in the last few months. After hitting an all-time high near $ 20,000 on Dec. 17 on the Luxembourg-based Bistustamp platform, the world's most popular digital currency fell more than 50 percent over the next month to less than $ 10,000. But has since stabilized near $ 11,000.

The Turkish government has warned against using cryptocurrency, saying it is risky because there are no legal grounds for such deals.

Last month, EU states and projects agreed to impose stricter controls on the bitcoin platforms and other virtual currencies in an effort to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

"This is something new for me and for the world," the club's chairman said, "we are doing something new ... I am open to new things."