VALR obtains over-the-counter derivatives provider license from South African regulator

[PRESS RELEASE – Johannesburg, South Africa, October 20th, 2025]

VALR, the largest crypto exchange in South Africa by trading volume, has been granted an Over-The-Counter Derivatives Provider (ODP) license, as well as an additional Financial Services Provider (FSP) license from South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). This approval positions VALR as one of the first entities in South Africa to offer these crypto asset categories.

The ODP license allows VALR to offer a range of over-the-counter derivatives, including Contracts for Difference (CFDs) with underlying assets such as crypto assets, currencies, commodities, shares and indices; Quarterly and perpetual futures contracts with crypto assets as underlying assets; Options, Forwards and Swaps, all with crypto assets as the underlying value. This is one of the first times in South Africa that a financial services provider has been licensed to offer these products with crypto assets as the underlying asset. The additional FSP license allows VALR to expand its offering to traditional financial products, including deposits, shares, bonds and securities.

This development follows VALR’s previous achievement in April 2024, when it became one of the first crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in South Africa to receive both Category I and Category II licenses from the FSCA.

Farzam Ehsani, co-founder and CEO of VALR, commented: “This ODP license represents a critical step in the integration of crypto assets with established financial instruments, allowing us to deliver secure and compliant products to our customers. It underlines our commitment to regulatory excellence and operational integrity and we are very excited about introducing more and more products that serving our users.”

For South Africa, this license advances the national regulatory framework for digital assets, promoting greater financial inclusion and innovation in a market where cryptocurrency adoption is growing rapidly. It positions South Africa as a pioneer in Africa in the field of regulated crypto derivatives.

From a broader crypto industry perspective, the approval highlights crypto’s maturing integration with traditional finance, enabling more sophisticated risk management and trading strategies. This reduces barriers for institutional and private participants, promoting broader adoption and optionality in global markets.

About VALR

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Johannesburg, VALR is a global crypto exchange backed by leading investors including Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures and Fidelity’s F-Prime. VALR offers a comprehensive suite of products, including Spot Trading, Spot Margin, Perpetual Futures, Staking, Lending, Borrowing, OTC services, VALR Invest and VALR Pay. VALR is licensed by the South African FSCA and has regulatory approval in Europe. It serves more than 1.6 million users and 1,800 corporate and institutional customers worldwide. The fair is dedicated to promoting an equitable financial future. For more information, visit valr.com.