VALR Review 2026
Registered exchange with real regulatory records.
VALR is a crypto exchange founded in 2019. It holds a FSCA (South Africa CASP) registration on the public register.
The record
On file, VALR traces to 2019, with its operating base recorded in South Africa. Ownership is private, and no equity trades on a public exchange. The order book covers 33 coins and trading pairs, spanning spot and, where a jurisdiction permits, derivatives. The mandate stays inside crypto, spot and derivatives, nothing more.
Execution runs through VALR's own web, mobile and API stack. No copy-trading layer is offered on the platform.
VALR is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange established in 2018 and registered in South Africa. With support for 75+ cryptocurrencies, the platform boasts an average 24-hour trading volume exceeding $30 million and has processed over $23 billion in transactions. As South Africa’s largest and licensed crypto exchange,
| Founded | 2019 |
| Headquarters | South Africa |
| Listed coins | 33 |
| Trading pairs | 53 |
| Exchange type | Centralized (CEX) |
| CoinGecko trust score | 8/10 · global rank #41 |
| 24h volume | 61 BTC |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Copy trading | No |
| Official channels | Twitter/X |
Custody & proof
Registration with FSCA (South Africa CASP) places the exchange on an official public register, subject to that authority's AML and conduct rules. Confirm the current status directly on the regulator's own register.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity |
|---|---|---|
| FSCA (South Africa CASP) | Registered ✓ | VALR (Pty) Ltd |
Cross-check the FSCA (South Africa CASP) entry yourself at oracl8.com. Each record returns the licensed entity, its current authorisation state, and the exact activities it is cleared to run, a lookup that costs about a minute.
Fee schedule
The rates below are the standing fees on VALR. Both sides of the book move with your rolling 30-day volume, and holders of the venue's native token typically settle at a discount.
| Taker fee | 0.1% |
| Maker fee | 0.00% |
| BTC/USD trading fee | 0.1% |
| ETH/USD trading fee | 0.1% |
| Withdrawal cost | Network fee only (varies by coin) |
At 0.1%, the VALR taker fee reads as one of the sharpest posted by any registered venue of this size.
Withdrawals, cost and timing
Fee: None. VALR does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees. Your payment provider may apply their own transfer fees.
Processing time: Instant to 24 hours for e-wallets. Bank transfers take 1 to 3 business days.
No payout clears until identity checks are settled. An account still short of full verification, identity and address on file, will see the timeline stretch. Once a record is complete, payouts track the figures above.
Minimum deposit, entity by entity
What you must fund to open depends on which VALR entity your country routes to. Offshore books tend to set the bar lower, in exchange for thinner regulatory cover.
| Entity | Regulator | Min deposit | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALR (Pty) Ltd | FSCA (South Africa CASP) · Registered | None | 1:1 |
VALR vs Bitfinex
| VALR | Bitfinex | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FSCA (South Africa CASP) Registered | El Salvador DASP Registered |
| Min deposit | None | None |
| Taker fee | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Listed coins & pairs | 33+ | 65+ |
| Copy trading | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | None | Varies |
Both records check out as registered venues. The case for VALR rests on its platform and the breadth of its coin list; Bitfinex pulls ahead where a trader weighs the reach of its specific licensed entities more heavily.
Registrations on file
| FSCA (South Africa CASP) | Registered, VALR (Pty) Ltd |
For retail accounts across the EU and UK, leverage on crypto derivatives is held to 1:1 by local rule.
Strengths and weak points
What works
- FSCA (South Africa CASP) regulated
- No minimum deposit
- No inactivity fee
- Low taker fee from 0.1%
What does not work
- No tier-1 registration on file (FCA, MAS, NYDFS or MiCA)
- No copy trading
The verdict
The records place VALR as a registered, operating crypto exchange, FSCA (South Africa CASP) Registered confirms on the public file. The best fit is traders who want 33 coins and pairs reachable through a registered venue. Score: 4.0 out of 5.
Alternatives to VALR
Should VALR miss the mark, the registered venues below are worth setting side by side:
Frequently asked questions
Is VALR safe?
Registration with FSCA (South Africa CASP) places the exchange on an official public register, subject to that authority's AML and conduct rules. The FSCA (South Africa CASP) record sits on the official register in public view, open to anyone who wants to confirm it.
What is the VALR minimum deposit?
None covers the primary regulated entity. Offshore books can set a different bar, so the entity table above is the place to read the figure that applies to your country.
What is the VALR trading fee?
On the record, VALR charges about 0.1% to take and 0.00% to make. The schedule tapers as 30-day volume climbs, and native-token holders usually clear at a reduced rate.
How long does VALR take to process withdrawals?
Instant to 24 hours for e-wallets. Bank transfers take 1 to 3 business days.
Does VALR charge withdrawal fees?
None. VALR does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees. Your payment provider may apply their own transfer fees.
Does VALR have an API?
Yes. Beyond its web and mobile front ends, VALR exposes a public REST and WebSocket API, the hook for automated strategies, custom bots, and outside portfolio tools that read from an account.