The Turkish transportation company Marti has made headlines with its recent decision to allocate 20% of its idle liquidity into cryptocurrency assets. According to the firm’s strategy, Bitcoin would be the initial asset in this venture, with ambitions to increase this investment to 50% shortly thereafter.
This bold move is particularly timely as Turkey faces inflation rates soaring between 40% to 50%, which severely reduce the value of lira-denominated holdings. Marti’s CEO, Oguz Oktem, emphasized that diversifying into cryptocurrencies could serve as a safeguard against risks associated with traditional fiat currencies.
Importantly, Marti reassured stakeholders that its daily operations would remain unaffected, and only surplus liquidity will be redirected to support this innovative strategy.
Marti’s Journey into the Crypto World
According to various reports, all digital assets acquired will be securely stored with a regulated custodian, ensuring compliance with institutional standards. Oktem mentioned that acquisitions would be held long-term, with plans to eventually incorporate other cryptocurrencies like Solana and Ethereum in the future.
Bizler, nakit rezervlerimizin %20’sini dijital kripto varlıklara yatırma kararı aldık. İlk adımda Bitcoin ile başlamış bulunuyoruz.
Dijital varlıkları uzun vadeli bir araç olarak değerlendiriyoruz, ve bu…
— Oğuz Alper Öktem (@OguzAlperOktem) July 29, 2025
This strategic direction is reminiscent of established names like Strategy, which has invested over $10 billion in Bitcoin, alongside ZOOZ’s significant $180 million allocation. Marti stands out as the pioneering mobility service provider in Turkey to adopt such an approach, potentially encouraging other companies in emerging markets to follow suit.
Record Growth in Riders and Drivers
Recent financial reports from Marti indicate that the firm has exceeded its 2025 target milestones well ahead of schedule. By June, rider numbers surged beyond 2 million, and the platform welcomed over 300,000 drivers.
This equates to an 8% increase in drivers and a commendable 13% growth in rider registrations since March. So far, Marti’s users have completed upwards of 35 million rides.
According to Oktem, these impressive figures empower the company to adopt long-term hedging strategies without distracting from its aggressive growth plans.
Making a Mark on Wall Street
In July 2023, Marti made a historic leap by listing on the New York Stock Exchange, marking the first time a Turkish micro-mobility firm has gone public in the U.S.
While traders are enthused about the diversification into digital assets, there remains concern over the inherent volatility of cryptocurrencies. The swift market reactions highlight the anxiety many investors feel when companies venture into new risk territories.
Navigating Regulatory Landscapes and Accounting Challenges
Marti anticipates that employing a regulated custodian will significantly mitigate risks related to hacking and regulatory compliance. However, under conventional accounting practices, fluctuations in Bitcoin’s value could result in impairment charges.
Such write-downs could adversely affect Marti’s earnings, which might be unsettling for risk-averse shareholders. The company has committed to providing updates regarding its cryptocurrency reserves in upcoming financial disclosures.
Future Expansion Plans
Currently, Marti operates across major Turkish cities, including Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir, offering a fleet of e-mopeds, e-scooters, and e-bikes through its app.
Looking ahead, the company intends to expand its services to Konya, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Bursa, Mersin, and Adana before the end of the year.
Image credit to Marti, with chart sourced from TradingView.
