VALR and Onafriq Pioneer Direct Local Currency Funding for African Crypto Users

Key Takeaways:

• VALR and Onafriq integrated to let mobile wealth backing crossed 43 African markets successful 2026.
• Mobile wealth added $190 cardinal to GDP successful 2023, making this Onafriq woody captious for section growth.
• Over 1.7 cardinal VALR users tin present entree Bitcoin and tokenized gold via 1 cardinal mobile wallets.

Expanding Financial Access Through Mobile Networks

Cryptocurrency speech VALR announced a strategical concern with integer payments gateway Onafriq to alteration African users to money their wallets utilizing mobile wealth successful section currencies. By bypassing accepted banking hurdles, the collaboration aims to bring fiscal tools ranging from bitcoin to tokenized gold to a massive, mobile-first population.

According to a media statement, the integration leverages Onafriq’s network, which connects astir 1 cardinal mobile wealth wallets crossed 43 markets. Data from the GSMA State of the Industry Report 2025 underscores this shift, showing that registered mobile wealth accounts deed 2.1 cardinal by precocious 2024.

In sub-Saharan Africa, mobile wealth contributed astir $190 cardinal to gross home merchandise successful 2023. In markets specified arsenic Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana, mobile wealth transactions importantly outperform recognition cards and slope transfers for home use.

The method halfway of the concern involves stablecoin settlements. When a idiosyncratic deposits section currency via mobile wealth platforms, the transaction is processed utilizing stablecoins to guarantee velocity and stability. Once funded, users summation entree to VALR’s afloat suite of products, including spot and borderline trading for bitcoin and much than 100 crypto assets. They besides summation entree to real-world assets similar gold, equities, and backstage credit.

Farzam Ehsani, co-founder and CEO of VALR, highlighted the quality interaction of the deal.

“Mobile wealth has already reshaped fiscal entree crossed the African continent,” Ehsani said. “By enabling nonstop connections successful section currencies, we connection millions a applicable pathway to bitcoin, stablecoins, and innovative fiscal tools, supporting greater economical information for everyone.”

Dare Okoudjou, laminitis and CEO of Onafriq, echoed this sentiment, noting that VALR is simply a “recognized pioneer” successful blockchain technology. He emphasized that the woody allows Onafriq’s 1 cardinal wallet users to “transact freely” wrong the integer plus ecosystem.

Founded successful 2018 and backed by Coinbase Ventures and Pantera Capital, VALR already serves much than 1.7 cardinal users and 2,000 organization clients. It is licensed by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority.