The Turkish FX industry has quickly evolved following Erdoğan’s efforts to turn Turkey into regional financial hub.
FM
The current leader of Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, entered major league politics in 2003 when he became the prime minister. In 2001, he established the Justice and Development Party (AKP). During the period when the AKP was in power Turkey experienced strong economic growth. From 2003 to 2016 GDP growth was negative only once – in 2009, as a result of the world financial crisis.
In 2010, GDP growth was close to 9.2% and in 2011 it was almost 8.8%. The country has managed to stay on the path of rapid economic expansion even though in recent years growth has been below the 4% mark.
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Up until last year, the situation in Turkey was evolving in the right direction, with all aspects of the financial market giving hope for even greater prospects. However, 2016 has brought about a series of events that may be seen as small question marks on the horizon.
The clear sky of Turkey has been slightly covered by shadows of the unknown. All of the questions now being raised have their origin outside of the Turkish financial market or even the economy - they are related to global politics.
In the Global Financial Centres Index #15 from 2014 Istanbul was ranked 47th. In the latest edition (19th, March 2016), it holds the 45th position. It will be interesting to see how the failed coup affects the next edition’s decision making process concerning its ranking.
However, it seems very important for Turkey to retain a good partnership with the EU and the US. If it can manage to achieve this, the local FX industry should be able to remain on a solid path of growth. Will it evolve in a direction similar to that of Japan, where volumes are the biggest globally but only local, Japanese brokers share most of it? Or maybe, will it leave room for foreign players?
“I strongly believe that the resilience of the Turkish capital markets will endure, as seen during the recent Liquidity crisis that swept the global economies as well as during the failed coup attempt. Market reaction to these events have clearly proven the Turkish financial industry’s desire and readiness to become the financial Hub of the region," said Cuneyt Akdemir, Manager at IS Investment & Securities, in an interview with Finance Magnates.
“Thus, as additional planned regulatory changes aiming to address this goal come into effect, the Turkish financial industry will see a greater appetite from local and foreign investors, as it continues to develop itself in terms of stability, range of products offered and market access.”, he added.
In the upcoming quarters the internal politics of Turkey will determine the further evolution of the local financial market.
This will shape bilateral relations between Turkey and the US as well as with the EU. Even the most ambitious goals may be overshadowed by potential, geopolitical tensions. Turkey needs foreign partners in order to be recognized as a financial hub in the region.
Want to learn more about the Turkish retail FX industry? Read the full article in the latest Finance Magnates Intelligence Report.
The current leader of Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, entered major league politics in 2003 when he became the prime minister. In 2001, he established the Justice and Development Party (AKP). During the period when the AKP was in power Turkey experienced strong economic growth. From 2003 to 2016 GDP growth was negative only once – in 2009, as a result of the world financial crisis.
In 2010, GDP growth was close to 9.2% and in 2011 it was almost 8.8%. The country has managed to stay on the path of rapid economic expansion even though in recent years growth has been below the 4% mark.
[gptAdvertisement]
Up until last year, the situation in Turkey was evolving in the right direction, with all aspects of the financial market giving hope for even greater prospects. However, 2016 has brought about a series of events that may be seen as small question marks on the horizon.
The clear sky of Turkey has been slightly covered by shadows of the unknown. All of the questions now being raised have their origin outside of the Turkish financial market or even the economy - they are related to global politics.
In the Global Financial Centres Index #15 from 2014 Istanbul was ranked 47th. In the latest edition (19th, March 2016), it holds the 45th position. It will be interesting to see how the failed coup affects the next edition’s decision making process concerning its ranking.
However, it seems very important for Turkey to retain a good partnership with the EU and the US. If it can manage to achieve this, the local FX industry should be able to remain on a solid path of growth. Will it evolve in a direction similar to that of Japan, where volumes are the biggest globally but only local, Japanese brokers share most of it? Or maybe, will it leave room for foreign players?
“I strongly believe that the resilience of the Turkish capital markets will endure, as seen during the recent Liquidity crisis that swept the global economies as well as during the failed coup attempt. Market reaction to these events have clearly proven the Turkish financial industry’s desire and readiness to become the financial Hub of the region," said Cuneyt Akdemir, Manager at IS Investment & Securities, in an interview with Finance Magnates.
“Thus, as additional planned regulatory changes aiming to address this goal come into effect, the Turkish financial industry will see a greater appetite from local and foreign investors, as it continues to develop itself in terms of stability, range of products offered and market access.”, he added.
In the upcoming quarters the internal politics of Turkey will determine the further evolution of the local financial market.
This will shape bilateral relations between Turkey and the US as well as with the EU. Even the most ambitious goals may be overshadowed by potential, geopolitical tensions. Turkey needs foreign partners in order to be recognized as a financial hub in the region.
Want to learn more about the Turkish retail FX industry? Read the full article in the latest Finance Magnates Intelligence Report.
A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics, Sylwester received an MA specializing in finance and banking. As Finance Magnates' research associate and STA certified analyst, he leaves no stone unturned. Sylwester is the previous minority partner of an NFA registered US forex broker, and since 2003, has participated in many forex projects.
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Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
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As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
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Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
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🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
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🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
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Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
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🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
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As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
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As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
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Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
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-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
