Freedom Investment: Breaking the 34-Year Silence in Capital Markets

A door that has been closed for over a quarter of a century in Turkey’s capital markets has swung open with Freedom Investment securing a full-authorized brokerage license from the Capital Markets Board (SPK), signaling the breaking of the most significant resistance to foreign capital on the regulatory front. This move by the international financial services group, boasting 14 billion USD in total assets under Freedom Holding Corp., is valued not merely as the entry of a new player, but as a strategic step towards the integration of Borsa Istanbul into global liquidity networks.

A Global Giant Breaks the Decades-Long Drought

Freedom Investment is set to fill a long-standing void in capital markets, marking a historic record as the first foreign-capitalized firm to receive this authorization in Turkey in 34 years. The company's financial depth and operational capacity are highlighted by the following data:

■Freedom Holding Corp. reached a total asset size of 14 billion USD as of June 30, 2026.

■Approximately 39 percent of the Group's total net income is generated from capital markets activities.

■The company possesses a massive network serving over 870,000 customer accounts globally.

Digital Bridge Between Borsa Istanbul and Global Markets

Aiming to transcend traditional brokerage services, the company plans to bring the technological infrastructure of the TraderNet platform to Turkey, enhancing local investors' access to international markets and boosting foreign interest in Borsa Istanbul. Key components of this strategy include:

■Borsa Istanbul integration has been completed, granting the global network access to investment opportunities in the Turkish market.

■A bidirectional, seamless connection between Turkey and global capital markets is targeted.

■The focus is on combining local expertise with Freedom Holding Corp.’s international competencies.

SuperApp Vision and the Central Asian Blueprint

The Group's Turkey strategy envisages a hybrid structure integrating financial services with daily life. Freedom Holding Corp. Founder and CEO Timur Turlov stated they aim to build an integrated digital financial ecosystem in Turkey, inspired by their experience in Kazakhstan. The cornerstones of this vision are:

■Banking and investment services will be offered under a single roof centered around Freedom Bank and Freedom Investment.

■The Freedom SuperApp model from Kazakhstan is planned to be adapted to the Turkish market.

■Banking, capital markets, and daily digital services will be combined in a seamless experience.

The SPK’s decision to issue such a license after 34 years represents a critical inflection point demonstrating the resolve of Turkish capital markets to align with international standards regarding legislation and supervision. The entry of Freedom Investment will act as a catalyst not just for market depth as a new player, but also for technology transfer and accelerating global capital flows. Specifically, the increase in foreign portfolio inflows and the eased access of local investors to alternative asset classes will likely have a market-stabilizing effect that reduces volatility and enhances efficiency.