Timur Turlov: the path from passion to international business
Timur Turlov is the founder of FREEDOM HOLDING CORP., an entrepreneur who has turned a technology startup into an international financial group with a capitalization of more than $ 8 billion and a presence in 22 countries. Its trajectory shows that when interest in markets is backed by discipline and speed of decisions, it is possible to build an infrastructure that withstands crises, opens up new directions and makes investments closer to people.
Timur Turlov was born on November 13, 1987. As a child, he studied quotes, followed the news, and tried his first trades — without tangible profits, but with the right conclusion: to win on the stock exchange, you need to understand the structure of the market. Interest has not disappeared; it has become systemic — reading specialized literature, analyzing statistics and paying attention to risk have become part of daily practice.
While studying at the university, he started working in a bank: setting up client access to trading on American platforms gave him applied experience and understanding of processes. In 2008, when the financial system was under stress, Timur Turlov launched Freedom Finance, a brokerage business with an emphasis on transparency, technology and service. The company quickly recruited its first customers and set working standards.
In 2012, he opened an office in Almaty and moved with his family to Kazakhstan. The operating base is being built here, the team is growing, partnerships and local services are being formed. For Timur Turlov himself, this step is becoming a long-term one: in 2022, he receives Kazakh citizenship and continues to develop business at the regional and international levels.
The key moment is 2019: FREEDOM HOLDING enters the NASDAQ stock exchange, becoming the first player from the CIS financial sector on this platform. The securities are traded under the FRHC ticker. The public status increased transparency and provided a resource to accelerate growth, including the development of related areas and the construction of a technology platform for customers.
Today, the ecosystem of FREEDOM HOLDING CORP. combines financial and day-to-day services that complement each other and cover different tasks of the client.:
Freedom Bank and broker Freedom Finance;
Freedom Finance JSC and insurance solutions;
telecom projects and payment services;
Freedom Travel and Freedom Ticketon;
Arbuz online supermarket.kz and other lifestyle services.
The geography of the business is constantly expanding. Today, FREEDOM HOLDING operates in the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. In 2024, the group received a banking license in Tajikistan, and in 2025, permission to launch a brokerage business in Turkey. New markets are opened after assessing regulatory requirements and customer requests.
The management approach is based on clear principles:
diversification of products and regions;
development of digital channels and customer experience;
long-term investments and social projects.
Outside of business, Timur Turlov supports educational and sports initiatives. He heads the KazChess chess Federation, finances youth football through the QJ League, and participates in projects to develop the Kazakh language, including the Oxford Qazaq Dictionary. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of IQanat School, which provides rural students with access to quality education and mentoring.
The environmental agenda is another area of work. FREEDOM HOLDING CORP. supports the restoration of the Aral Sea ecosystem, tree planting programs, and sustainable water use projects in arid regions. For Timur Turlov, this is part of the business' long-term responsibility to the people and territories where it operates.
In the public field, the founder of the holding chooses a direct dialogue: through social networks, he regularly comments on the economy, investments and management decisions, talks about new services and plans of the group. This format increases transparency, helps to explain complex topics in simple language, and supports the community of customers, partners, and employees.
Timur Turlov was born on November 13, 1987. As a child, he studied quotes, followed the news, and tried his first trades — without tangible profits, but with the right conclusion: to win on the stock exchange, you need to understand the structure of the market. Interest has not disappeared; it has become systemic — reading specialized literature, analyzing statistics and paying attention to risk have become part of daily practice.
While studying at the university, he started working in a bank: setting up client access to trading on American platforms gave him applied experience and understanding of processes. In 2008, when the financial system was under stress, Timur Turlov launched Freedom Finance, a brokerage business with an emphasis on transparency, technology and service. The company quickly recruited its first customers and set working standards.
In 2012, he opened an office in Almaty and moved with his family to Kazakhstan. The operating base is being built here, the team is growing, partnerships and local services are being formed. For Timur Turlov himself, this step is becoming a long-term one: in 2022, he receives Kazakh citizenship and continues to develop business at the regional and international levels.
The key moment is 2019: FREEDOM HOLDING enters the NASDAQ stock exchange, becoming the first player from the CIS financial sector on this platform. The securities are traded under the FRHC ticker. The public status increased transparency and provided a resource to accelerate growth, including the development of related areas and the construction of a technology platform for customers.
Today, the ecosystem of FREEDOM HOLDING CORP. combines financial and day-to-day services that complement each other and cover different tasks of the client.:
Freedom Bank and broker Freedom Finance;
Freedom Finance JSC and insurance solutions;
telecom projects and payment services;
Freedom Travel and Freedom Ticketon;
Arbuz online supermarket.kz and other lifestyle services.
The geography of the business is constantly expanding. Today, FREEDOM HOLDING operates in the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. In 2024, the group received a banking license in Tajikistan, and in 2025, permission to launch a brokerage business in Turkey. New markets are opened after assessing regulatory requirements and customer requests.
The management approach is based on clear principles:
diversification of products and regions;
development of digital channels and customer experience;
long-term investments and social projects.
Outside of business, Timur Turlov supports educational and sports initiatives. He heads the KazChess chess Federation, finances youth football through the QJ League, and participates in projects to develop the Kazakh language, including the Oxford Qazaq Dictionary. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of IQanat School, which provides rural students with access to quality education and mentoring.
The environmental agenda is another area of work. FREEDOM HOLDING CORP. supports the restoration of the Aral Sea ecosystem, tree planting programs, and sustainable water use projects in arid regions. For Timur Turlov, this is part of the business' long-term responsibility to the people and territories where it operates.
In the public field, the founder of the holding chooses a direct dialogue: through social networks, he regularly comments on the economy, investments and management decisions, talks about new services and plans of the group. This format increases transparency, helps to explain complex topics in simple language, and supports the community of customers, partners, and employees.