31.05.2026 13:20
The commission exploitation method known as Fee Churning in the cryptocurrency world is targeting Turkish users through copy-trade systems. It is assessed that the affiliate system of unlicensed exchanges operating in Turkey has paved the way for this fraudulent method. The global cryptocurrency platform named WEEX stands out as one of the most notable examples of this situation.
Fee Churning is defined as a fraud and manipulation method translated into Turkish as commission exploitation. Fee Churning has become much more dangerous in the crypto world with the copy-trade system. When a user connects their account to a copy-trading account, the counterparty executes high-leverage trades that open and close within seconds using the user's balance. Experts state that the purpose of these trades is not to profit but to generate as much trading volume as possible. While a trading commission is deducted from each of the numerous trades made in a short time, most of this fee is transferred to the influencer.
TURKISH USER'S VICTIMIZATION ON WEEX EXPOSED
A Turkish crypto user named smZ_666 shared their fee churning case with all evidence on their X account. The user reported depositing $1,000 into the WEEX exchange to join the copy-trade account of the crypto influencer KriptoBugraTw, and their balance dropped to $77 just three hours after registration. The situation became clear when the user examined their transaction history. It was observed that the influencer opened $100 trades on the BTC-USDT pair with 400x leverage and repeated this 38 times in a short period. As a result of these trades, a total trading volume of $1.1 million was generated from the $1,000 balance, and $684 in trading fees were deducted by WEEX.
CLOSED ACCOUNT AFTER REACTIONS
Through the affiliate system, 80% of the $684 trading fee deducted by WEEX is transferred to the crypto influencer. The crypto influencer attracts new users to their copy-trade account, opens numerous high-leverage trades using their balances, causing most of the balance to be deducted as trading fees. With this method, the exchange and the influencer profit while the user becomes the losing party. It has been documented that the influencer earns up to 80% commission income under WEEX's affiliate program, there is no real trading strategy, and the system is entirely designed to convert the user's money into commissions. Following the Fee Churning exposure, the crypto influencer KriptoBugraTw closed their X account.
REFERRAL SYSTEM FOUNDATION FOR FRAUD
Experts state that the affiliate system is the foundation of the structure enabling Fee Churning. It is emphasized that this structure creates a basis for the party using the copy-trade system to want the user to make as many trades as possible rather than profit. The more trades the user makes, the more commission the counterparty earns, and in this equation, profit or loss ceases to be decisive. WEEX's affiliate program offers up to 80% commission share, and this rate is openly announced.
AFFILIATE ACTIVITY CONTINUES DESPITE BEING BANNED IN TURKEY
It is known that WEEX, where the Fee Churning case occurred, operates without a license in Turkey. The cryptocurrency exchange, which the Capital Markets Board (SPK) banned access to in March 2026, continues to make Turkish-language posts on its X account. It has been determined that Turkish crypto influencers continue to share WEEX affiliate links, and WEEX's copy-trade system is actively promoted to Turkish users. It is stated that Law No. 7518, which came into effect in July 2024, explicitly prohibits foreign crypto platforms without an SPK license from conducting affiliate and referral programs aimed at Turkish users. Experts indicate that this prohibition covers not only the platform but also influencers sharing affiliate links and individuals abusing the copy-trade system. It is emphasized that such activities are considered unauthorized crypto asset service provision under Law No. 7518, with penalties ranging from 3 to 5 years of imprisonment and judicial fines up to 10,000 days for this crime.