When it comes to digital transformation in finance, Kazakhstan might not be the first country that comes to mind. Yet this is precisely where one of the most ambitious fintech companies of the decade has emerged — Freedom Holding Corp., led by its founder and CEO, Timur Turlov. He hasn’t simply built a company; he has constructed a full-scale ecosystem that integrates banking, brokerage services, insurance, telecommunications, online travel platforms and investment products.
Timur Turlov, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., began his career in the securities market and holds a degree in economics and management. In his early twenties, he set out to create something beyond a traditional brokerage — a business built on technology, convenience, and long-term vision.
Today, Freedom operates in 16 countries and serves over 7 million clients. Kazakhstan remains the company’s core market, and it’s where Turlov has implemented cutting-edge solutions that often outpace Western counterparts. Freedom Bank was the first in the country — and possibly the world — to offer fully digital mortgage and car loans. Through DTP.kz, clients receive insurance payouts for road accidents within five working days, compared to the usual 90. These aren’t just flashy innovations; they solve real problems and deliver tangible value.
Turlov credits three key drivers behind Freedom’s growth: a strong team, robust infrastructure, and products that truly serve the customer. “Our client acquisition and support costs have significantly decreased thanks to deep digitalisation and big data analytics. That’s our competitive edge,” he explains.
But Freedom isn’t just about finance. Its ecosystem includes ticketing services, a payment system (Freedom Pay), and a mobile network operator (Freedom Telecom). In the U.S., the firm runs Freedom Capital Markets, a licensed investment bank, while in Europe it operates Freedom Finance Europe. Its global brokerage platform, Tradernet, connects hundreds of thousands of investors — from Central Asia to Wall Street — and enables access to IPOs and international markets.
In 2023, the company launched a new investment product — a five-year bond with a 12% annual yield in USD, with monthly coupon payments and a low entry threshold of $1,000. Importantly, the bonds are backed by a corporate guarantee on both the principal and interest.
Behind these achievements is a leader who’s unafraid to take risks. “If all you ever seek is comfort, you’ll never get anywhere,” Turlov says. He doesn’t just think like an entrepreneur — he lives it. He understands how hard it is to scale a company, but that’s what motivates him to keep pushing forward.
Outside the corporate sphere, Turlov is deeply involved in public initiatives. He serves as President of both the Kazakhstan Football Federation and the national Chess Federation, and supports educational projects like IQanat. For him, the youth represent Kazakhstan’s most vital resource. “We believe in creating social mobility. If we invest in young people now, we’re investing in a stronger, more capable society tomorrow.”
Turlov’s vision goes far beyond financial success. It’s about removing barriers, improving access, and setting a new standard for what a digitally integrated company can be. His advice to young professionals? Stay curious. Keep learning. Don’t shy away from responsibility. And above all, believe in what you do.
