Turkey’s economic turmoil drives Bitcoin frenzy

Investors turn to cryptocurrency after Erdoan's sacking of central bank governor caused further fall in lira

The neighbourhood teahouse is a focus of daily life across Turkey, an Ottoman tradition that has endured through the centuries. At the Red Lightning teahouse in Corum, the enterprising owners have one foot in the past and one in the future: it's the first in the country where customers can pay in bitcoin.

Everyone we know in Corum is starting to invest in cryptocurrency. We think that in five years or so regular currency will be in decline, it will be replaced by digital ones. So we wanted to be in a good position now," said co-owners Huseyin Nalc, 38, and Kerem Kutay Yldrm, 28.