Africa’s VALR Taps MoonPay to Unlock Crypto Access in 180 Markets

VALR, Africa’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trade volume, has partnered with MoonPay to simplify fiat-to-crypto access across more than 180 countries. 

The integration allows VALR users to buy and sell digital assets using 34 fiat currencies via widely used payment methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, and credit and debit cards .

The collaboration is part of VALR’s broader push to enhance its global footprint beyond Africa, particularly in underserved regions where access to digital assets remains limited.

Crypto Access Through Local Currency Integration

Through MoonPay’s infrastructure, VALR users in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia, Brazil, and Turkey can now convert local currencies like Nigerian Naira (NGN), Kenyan Shilling (KES), Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), Turkish Lira (TRY), Brazilian Real (BRL), and Taiwan Dollar directly into crypto.

VALR CEO Farzam Ehsani stated that the integration supports the company’s broader mission to make cryptocurrency accessible to a global user base. 

“This integration empowers our global community with efficient access to cryptocurrencies,” Ehsani said. “It aligns with VALR’s vision of building a financial system that reflects the oneness of humanity.”

Targets Emerging Markets

The move comes amid growing demand for stablecoins and decentralized value storage in emerging markets facing inflation and currency instability. 

Countries such as Nigeria, Argentina, and Turkey have experienced double-digit inflation and currency devaluation in recent years, prompting individuals and businesses to turn to dollar-pegged digital assets as a hedge. 

According to data from Chainalysis, global stablecoin transaction volume reached over $6.8 trillion in 2024, with a significant share coming from regions with volatile fiat currencies.

As regulators globally push for tighter compliance in the digital asset space, exchanges are also under pressure to offer compliant, user-friendly fiat ramps.

MoonPay, which supports over 30 million verified users, specializes in simplifying crypto onboarding through integrated payment solutions for both retail users and enterprise partners.

“Partnering with VALR to broaden access to stablecoins and other tokens is an exciting step toward our shared mission of global crypto adoption, empowering users in Africa and beyond to hold value on-chain,” said MoonPay co-founder and CEO Ivan Soto-Wright.

Expands Global Footprint

Founded in 2018, Johannesburg-based VALR has grown into Africa’s largest crypto exchange by volume, serving more than 1.3 million users and over 1,300 institutional and corporate clients.

The platform offers a broad suite of services including spot and futures trading, staking, lending, OTC services, its own payments platform VALR Pay, and a high-frequency trading API to businesses and developers

VALR is licensed by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority, holds regulatory approval in Europe, and has received initial approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.

So far, the exchange has raised $55 million from major investors including Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Fidelity’s F-Prime Capital. Its new partnership with MoonPay is the latest move in VALR’s push to become a global gateway for crypto access.

Why This Matters

This partnership enables people in emerging markets to buy and sell cryptocurrencies using their local currency, addressing challenges such as inflation and currency instability.

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