Celebrating Seven Years of VALR: A Journey of Innovation and Growth
VALR, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange and Africa’s largest digital asset trading platform by volume, proudly marks its 7th anniversary today, March 20. This milestone is a testament to its enduring commitment to revolutionizing the financial landscape.
The Genesis of a Visionary Platform
Established in March 2018, VALR emerged with a visionary goal: to construct an inclusive financial ecosystem accessible to individuals worldwide. Within its first nine months, the platform officially launched, welcoming over 1,000 users on its inaugural day.
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By June 2019, VALR had expanded its offerings, introducing its first trading pair, Bitcoin (BTC) against the South African Rand (ZAR), thereby enhancing liquidity within South Africa’s burgeoning crypto market. The year 2020 marked a period of robust growth as cryptocurrency adoption soared, propelling VALR’s trading volumes to quintuple.
In a bid to fortify community relations, VALR distributed over R50 million in rewards and rebates in 2021, further solidifying its presence in the industry.
VALR’s Continued Expansion and Milestones
VALR’s reputation as a trailblazer was further cemented in 2022 when it secured $50 million in what was, at that time, Africa’s largest crypto funding round. This substantial investment fueled the company’s mission to build an inclusive financial future.
Riding the wave of momentum, VALR achieved a significant milestone in 2023 as total crypto trades on the platform exceeded $10 billion. That same year, the exchange introduced perpetual futures trading, featuring the world’s first BTC and Tether (USDT) perpetual futures paired against the South African Rand.
In 2024, VALR celebrated two pivotal achievements: surpassing 1 million users and obtaining both Category I and Category II licenses from South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), underscoring its commitment to regulatory compliance and user trust.
The Future: A Commitment to Decentralized Finance
Today, VALR proudly serves over 1 million retail clients and around 1,300 corporate and institutional partners, including banks, wealth managers, and fintech leaders. As it looks to the future, VALR remains steadfast in its dedication to advancing decentralized finance (DeFi) and enhancing cryptocurrency accessibility not only in Africa but on a global scale.
By staying true to its founding vision, VALR continues to pave the way for a financial system that transcends borders and empowers individuals everywhere.
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