[PRESS RELEASE – Johannesburg, South Africa, February 16th, 2026]

VALR, the leading crypto exchange in Africa by trading volume, has successfully completed its role as a Gold Sponsor at the Africa Tech Summit held in Nairobi from February 11th to 12th, 2026. This event highlighted Africa’s growing significance as a hub for cryptocurrency innovation and adoption.

Africa’s financial environment is highly fragmented, consisting of 54 countries with various national currencies. Cross-border payments often incur high fees, averaging around 7-8% for remittances, according to the World Bank and industry reports from 2025. Traditional systems can also result in delays of several days. Inflation across the continent surpassed 13% in 2025 as noted by the African Development Bank’s update, limiting access to stable foreign currencies like the US dollar and driving the adoption of alternative solutions for financial transactions.

In response to these challenges, cryptocurrency adoption has surged. Sub-Saharan Africa experienced a 52% year-over-year growth in crypto activity up to mid-2025, as reported by Chainalysis in their Global Crypto Adoption Index and Geography of Cryptocurrency Report. Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC are essential for transaction volumes in the region, facilitating practical uses such as inflation hedging, remittances, and payments.

Countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana are leading in global cryptocurrency adoption, according to Chainalysis data. Nigeria, in particular, has amassed over $92 billion in transactions within the 12 months leading to mid-2025, which places it at the forefront of Sub-Saharan Africa, closely followed by South Africa. Despite Africa accounting for just 3% of global trade volumes, these markets excel in leveraging crypto to address issues of accessibility, participation, and capital flows.

VALR has seen tremendous growth over the last two years, establishing itself as the foremost crypto exchange on the continent by trade volume. It offers the largest ZAR-denominated crypto markets globally and ranks among the top USDC minters worldwide. With a license from South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and regulatory approval in Europe, VALR supports over 1.7 million registered users along with 1,800 corporate and institutional clients.

During the summit, Co-Founder and CEO Farzam Ehsani gave a keynote address on the VALR Stage, discussing the need for the global financial system to embody the fundamental unity of humanity, noting that cryptocurrency is well poised to play a pivotal role in this vision.

Reflecting on the summit, Ehsani remarked:

“The Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi reinforced a clear message: Africa is not merely adopting crypto but leading its practical application to solve pressing financial needs. We are optimistic about the continent’s future and the role of unified, inclusive finance globally. VALR remains committed to building infrastructure that bridges divides and advances this shared vision.”

Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Badi Sudhakaran also participated in a panel focusing on cryptocurrency adoption in Africa, emphasizing that the growth stems from necessity, positioning the region as an innovation hub for real-world applications.

About VALR

Founded in 2018 and based in Johannesburg, VALR has attracted backing from leading investors such as Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Fidelity’s F-Prime Capital. VALR provides a comprehensive suite of crypto services, including Spot Trading, Spot Margin, Perpetual Futures, Staking, Lending, Borrowing, OTC services, VALR Invest, Crypto Bundles, and VALR Pay. Licensed by South Africa’s FSCA and with regulatory approval in Europe, VALR is committed to cultivating a fair financial future that honors human dignity and unity. For more details, visit valr.com.