Catenaa, Sunday, February 22, 2026- VALR, Africa’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, showcased the continent’s growing role in digital asset adoption during the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi on February 11–12.
The summit highlighted Africa’s fragmented financial landscape, where 54 countries and multiple currencies create high-cost, slow cross-border payments.
Inflation averaged over 13% in 2025, limiting access to stable foreign currencies and driving crypto adoption for remittances, payments, and value preservation.
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 52% year-over-year growth in crypto activity through mid-2025, led by countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana, according to Chainalysis data. Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC play a central role in transaction volumes and practical applications.
VALR, licensed by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority and approved in Europe, serves over 1.7 million users and 1,800 institutional clients. It offers the region’s deepest ZAR-denominated markets and ranks among the largest USDC minters globally.
Co-Founder and CEO Farzam Ehsani delivered a keynote stressing the role of crypto in building inclusive, global financial infrastructure, while Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Badi Sudhakaran discussed how necessity drives adoption and positions Africa as an innovation hub.
The summit emphasized Africa’s leadership in applying crypto to real-world financial challenges, with growing adoption across payments, hedging, and cross-border transfers.
VALR’s participation reinforces its commitment to bridging financial divides and supporting regulated, scalable infrastructure for users and institutions across the continent.
