Marti Technologies (NYSE American: MRT), the leading mobility super-app based in Istanbul, announced on July 29 that it will allocate approximately 20% of its surplus cash reserves to Bitcoin (BTC). This strategic move marks Marti as the first Turkish company listed on the New York Stock Exchange to integrate cryptocurrency into its treasury operations.
The initiative, aimed at preserving long-term value, reflects growing corporate interest in Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and the depreciation of fiat currencies. According to the company, the crypto allocation may scale up to 50% in the future, with additional exposure to other assets like Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) under consideration.
CEO Oguz Alper Oktem underscored the rationale behind the decision, citing macroeconomic uncertainty and the evolving role of digital assets in global finance. “We believe Bitcoin and certain other crypto assets represent a long-term store of value, similar to cash or gold,” Oktem said. “Our strategy is conservative in scope, applying only to surplus cash, and has no bearing on our operational capital or business expansion plans.”
The company’s approach is strictly focused on surplus reserves, ensuring that ongoing operations, capital expenditures, and R&D initiatives are not impacted. Marti emphasized that it will hold these digital assets with a regulated, institutional-grade custodian to guarantee compliance with security, custody, and legal standards.
The move is designed to align with existing U.S. and Turkish regulations, with the company pledging to report any material crypto asset acquisitions in line with disclosure requirements for public firms. According to internal statements, Marti views this as a diversification strategy aimed at financial resilience in an increasingly digitized economy.
Following the announcement, Marti’s stock experienced a 7% surge in after-hours trading, though those gains were reversed the next day with a drop of nearly 6% during regular market hours. The mixed response signals the ongoing debate among investors regarding the risks and rewards of corporate crypto holdings.
Marti’s decision aligns with a broader trend of public companies exploring cryptocurrency as a treasury asset. Global examples include U.S.-based MicroStrategy and Tesla, both of which have famously allocated significant portions of their reserves into Bitcoin. Marti’s move, however, stands out in its regional context, as it is one of the first Turkish firms to take such a step and the first to do so while listed on a major U.S. exchange.
With Turkey experiencing persistent inflation and lira depreciation in recent years, the decision may resonate with other emerging market firms seeking to protect capital through alternative asset strategies. Marti’s leadership sees this as both a forward-thinking financial move and a signal of confidence in blockchain’s long-term value proposition.
As the company navigates the evolving regulatory landscape, its strategy could serve as a case study for regional corporates considering digital assets — not merely as speculative instruments, but as strategic components of modern treasury management.
