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

VALR, the largest crypto exchange in South Africa by trade volume, has secured an Over-The-Counter Derivatives Provider (ODP) license along with 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 firms in South Africa to provide these services for crypto assets.

The ODP license empowers VALR to offer a variety of over-the-counter derivatives including Contracts for Difference (CFDs) backed by crypto assets, currencies, commodities, shares, and indices; Quarterly and Perpetual Futures Contracts involving crypto assets; as well as Options, Forwards, and Swaps with crypto assets. This is a significant milestone as it marks one of the first times in South Africa that a financial service provider is authorized to offer these products linked to crypto assets. The added FSP licensing enables VALR to diversify its portfolio with traditional financial products like deposits, shares, bonds, and securities.

This follows VALR’s notable success in April 2024 when it became one of the initial crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in South Africa to gain Category I and Category II licenses from the FSCA.

Farzam Ehsani, Co-Founder and CEO of VALR, remarked: “This ODP license signifies a pivotal advancement in merging crypto assets with established financial tools, allowing us to deliver secure and compliant solutions to our clients. It highlights our commitment to regulatory excellence and operational integrity, and we are thrilled to introduce increasingly diverse products for our users.”

For South Africa, this licensing enhances the country’s regulatory framework for digital assets, fostering higher financial inclusion and innovation in a rapidly growing crypto market. It establishes South Africa as a leader in Africa for regulated crypto derivatives.

From a global crypto industry outlook, this license accentuates the growing integration between crypto and traditional finance, enabling advanced risk management and trading methodologies. It diminishes barriers for both institutional and retail participants, encouraging broader adoption and flexibility in worldwide markets.

About VALR
Founded in 2018 and based in Johannesburg, VALR is a worldwide crypto exchange supported by prominent investors such as Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Fidelity’s F-Prime. VALR provides an extensive range of products including Spot Trading, Spot Margin, Perpetual Futures, Staking, Lending, Borrowing, OTC services, VALR Invest, and VALR Pay. Licensed by South Africa’s FSCA and regulated in Europe, VALR serves over 1.6 million users and 1,800 corporate and institutional clients globally. The exchange is dedicated to promoting an equitable financial future. For additional information, visit valr.com.