Johannesburg, South Africa, December 23rd, 2025, ChainwireSouth Africa has emerged as a leader in cryptocurrency innovation, establishing one of the most advanced regulatory frameworks globally. Since April 2024, more than 300 crypto asset service providers have successfully acquired licenses. Among the pioneers in this space is VALR, which was one of the first companies to secure a crypto license in South Africa. Recently, VALR has also obtained an Over-the-Counter Derivatives Provider (ODP) license from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). This new license allows VALR to offer a variety of over-the-counter derivatives, such as Contracts for Difference (CFDs), Quarterly and Perpetual Futures Contracts, Options, Forwards, and Swaps, all tied to crypto assets. This development is notable as it represents one of the first instances in South Africa where a financial service provider is authorized to sell these products linked to crypto assets.
### VALR’s User Growth and Product Expansion
In 2025, VALR made remarkable progress in expanding its global user base, now boasting over 1.7 million registered users, with hundreds of thousands actively engaging on a monthly basis and tens of thousands daily. The exchange has introduced a wide array of new crypto assets, bringing the total to over 100 coins available for trading on its platform. Among the various trading pairs, USDT/ZAR, BTC/ZAR, and XRP/ZAR have emerged as the most favored among VALR’s users.
### Enhanced Financial Services and User Engagement
Over the last seven years, VALR has evolved beyond merely offering exchange services, adapting to the maturation of the crypto industry. The company has broadened its range of financial services to meet the daily needs of both individual users and institutions looking to integrate crypto solutions. Customers can now utilize the VALR app to make payments at over 31,000 stores and 700,000 locations throughout South Africa. This functionality has been made possible through partnerships with Zapper, Scan-to-Pay, and Peach Payments. Furthermore, VALR facilitates opportunities for users to earn yield on their savings through lending and staking options.
This year alone, VALR users collectively earned over $1 million through various incentives on the platform, which included rewards from staking, lending, airdrops, promotional offers, and trading competitions. Farzam Ehsani, the Co-Founder and CEO of VALR, emphasized the company’s commitment to creating an all-encompassing platform that caters to both individuals and institutions. He stated, “We’ve worked to build a comprehensive platform that serves everyone – individuals and institutions alike. We’ve made our app and website simple enough for our grandparents to use, while making our API one of the most sophisticated in the market to allow corporate clients and institutions to plug into our liquidity, pricing, custody, and much more.”
### Bridging Crypto and Traditional Finance Through RWAs
2025 has also seen significant advancements in the integration of cryptocurrency with traditional finance, particularly through the rise of real-world assets (RWAs). These assets are represented on the blockchain and encompass tangible items like gold, stocks, and real estate. A major advantage of RWAs is their potential to democratize access to global markets, allowing individuals who were previously excluded to gain exposure to these asset classes.
In alignment with this trend, VALR introduced the Garrington Capital USD Private Credit Token (USDPC) in July, marking Africa’s first tokenized asset aimed at retail investors, providing access to the North American high-yield private credit market—an investment opportunity that was once largely inaccessible to individual investors. In September, VALR expanded its offerings by listing xStocks, which allows users to easily invest in U.S. stocks and index funds, including popular names like Tesla and NVIDIA. VALR became the first crypto exchange on the African continent to offer such products. Additionally, the exchange launched Crypto Bundles this year, simplifying the process for newcomers to crypto wishing to create a diversified investment portfolio. Badi Sudhakaran, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, remarked, “Our innovations aim to serve the needs of customers at all levels, making finance fair and financial instruments accessible so everyone can confidently take control of their financial freedom and independence.”
### Institutional Adoption and Community Engagement
The year 2025 also marked a notable increase in institutional interest in cryptocurrency, especially in the United States, where major asset managers like Vanguard joined firms such as BlackRock in the crypto space. Many companies have begun to follow the example set by Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, by adding Bitcoin to their corporate treasuries. South Africa has witnessed similar developments in the institutional sector.
VALR has established partnerships with several major institutions across Africa—some of which remain undisclosed—providing the essential infrastructure for these entities to develop and deliver crypto products to their customers. In collaboration with Mukuru, VALR has enhanced access to US dollar stablecoins in Africa while also facilitating the creation of crypto asset services at several of South Africa’s leading banks.
In an effort to promote awareness about the benefits of cryptocurrency, VALR entered into a multi-year partnership with the DHL Stormers rugby team. VALR’s branding is now prominently featured on jerseys, kits, and at the DHL Stadium, where the exchange hosts a VIP suite. To further bolster this campaign, VALR has been flying a helicopter across the country with a banner proclaiming “Crypto For Everyone.” Farzam Ehsani added, “We’re dedicated to a world where finance unites us, turning opportunity into a right for all. Heading into 2026, we look with optimism at the opportunities before us, not just for VALR and our users, and not just for the crypto industry, but for the nation, the continent, and the world.”
### About VALR
Founded in 2018 and based in Johannesburg, VALR is supported by prominent investors including Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Fidelity’s F-Prime Capital. The exchange provides a wide range of crypto services, such as Spot Trading, Spot Margin, Perpetual Futures, Staking, Lending, Borrowing, OTC services, VALR Invest, Crypto Bundles, and VALR Pay. Licensed by South Africa’s FSCA and holding regulatory approval in Europe, VALR serves over 1.7 million users as well as 1,800 corporate and institutional clients globally. The exchange is committed to fostering a fair financial future that respects human dignity and promotes unity among people.
