VALR

Founded
2018/2019 — VALR was established in Johannesburg, South Africa as a digital asset trading platform focused on the African market.

Founders & Leadership
Farzam Ehsani — Co-Founder & CEO leading the company’s strategic growth and global expansion.

Location
Johannesburg, South Africa — with registered operations serving users across Africa and globally.

Industry
FinTech / Crypto Finance / Digital Assets — VALR operates as a cryptocurrency exchange and broader digital asset platform, facilitating secure trading, custody, payments and other crypto-related financial products.

Overview
VALR is a cryptocurrency exchange and digital asset ecosystem that enables users to buy, sell, store, and transfer Bitcoin and over 60 other cryptocurrencies — one of the widest selections in Africa. The platform serves both retail and institutional clients, and has rapidly grown its user base with trading, derivatives, staking, lending, OTC services, payment rails and more.
VALR has also expanded into partnerships that broaden access to crypto infrastructure — for example launching USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin wallets in collaboration with Mukuru to enable savings options less exposed to local currency volatility.

Core Features & Capabilities
Spot trading: Buy, sell and trade major and alternative cryptocurrencies.
Futures & derivatives: Licensed to offer OTC derivatives including futures, options, swaps, and CFDs on crypto assets.
Staking & lending: Earn yield or borrow against digital assets (where supported).
Custody & wallets: Secure storage and wallet services for multiple tokens.
Institutional services: Over-the-counter and API access for larger clients and liquidity partners.
Stablecoin infrastructure: Partnerships like the one with Mukuru for USDC wallets that support alternative savings strategies.

Target Market
Individual traders and investors: Consumers across Africa and beyond looking to trade and hold cryptocurrencies.
Institutional and corporate clients: Providing infrastructure, liquidity tools, OTC desks and APIs for larger financial and corporate participation.
Fintech and payments ecosystems: Partnering with platforms to integrate crypto into broader financial products (e.g., stablecoin savings).

Value Proposition
Wide crypto selection: One of the largest selections of tradable tokens available to African users.
Low-fee access: Competitive fee structures that attract both retail and institutional traders.
Scale and trust: Significant trading volume (processing billions in trade volume since launch) and a growing user base.
Regulatory compliance: Licensed by the South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) as a crypto asset service provider, including derivatives permissions — helping build trust in a regulated context.
Innovation and partnerships: Integrations like stablecoin wallets through partnerships (e.g., Mukuru) enhance financial utility in volatile markets.