VALR Partners with Checkout.com to Simplify Global Crypto Purchases

The core of the partnership is the integration of Checkout.com’s payment infrastructure directly into VALR’s platform. This technical collaboration allows international customers outside of VALR’s home market of South Africa to fund their accounts and purchase crypto without relying on slow, traditional bank transfers. Instead, users can utilize everyday payment rails like credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. According to the announcement, deposits and purchases are credited in seconds, either as a selected cryptocurrency or as a stablecoin such as USDC, providing immediate utility and reducing price volatility exposure for new entrants.

Badi Sudhakaran, VALR’s Chief Product Officer, framed the initiative as a mission-driven step. “This partnership with Checkout.com represents a significant step in democratising access to crypto, empowering individuals worldwide to participate in a more inclusive financial system,” Sudhakaran stated. The emphasis on “local currencies” and “trusted methods” underscores a strategic focus on user experience, aiming to lower the technical and psychological hurdles that often deter potential crypto investors. By handling currency conversion and compliance on the backend, VALR and Checkout.com offer a front-end experience that mirrors familiar e-commerce checkouts.

This partnership is not merely a feature update but a calculated expansion of VALR’s global on- and off-ramp capabilities. The exchange, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Johannesburg, has already established a substantial regulatory footprint. It is licensed by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and holds regulatory approval in Europe, serving over 1.5 million users and 1,800 institutional clients worldwide. The backing of prominent investors like Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Fidelity’s F-Prime Capital provides both capital and credibility for such expansive moves.

Integrating with Checkout.com, described as a “premier global payment provider,” significantly enhances VALR’s value proposition for its international user base. Checkout.com brings its own regulated infrastructure and fraud prevention systems, which VALR couples with its “industry-grade protections.” This combination of compliant payment processing and secure crypto custody is critical for attracting both retail and corporate clients in new jurisdictions. The move effectively allows VALR to leverage its existing suite of products—including spot trading, futures, staking, and OTC services—to a much broader, global audience that can now onboard funds with unprecedented ease.

While VALR is expanding its global reach, the partnership also reinforces its dominance as the leading crypto exchange in Africa by volume. By solving payment friction for international customers, VALR strengthens its position as a bridge connecting the African digital asset ecosystem to global liquidity and users. The ability to support “over 150 fiat currencies” means that users from virtually any country can interact with the platform, potentially driving new volumes and diversifying its user demographics.

The announcement aligns with a broader industry trend of crypto platforms seeking partnerships with traditional finance (TradFi) payment giants to improve accessibility. For VALR, the collaboration with Checkout.com is a direct execution of its stated vision to advance “a just financial future that bridges traditional and digital economies.” By making the initial purchase of cryptocurrencies as simple as any online transaction, VALR is betting that reduced friction will translate directly into increased adoption, not just for Bitcoin and Ethereum, but for the entire spectrum of digital assets and financial services it offers.