VALR Integrates Onafriq for Mobile Money Funding
VALR Integrates Onafriq for Mobile Money Funding
VALR integrates Onafriq, enabling users to fund exchange accounts via mobile money in local currencies. This move opens access to VALR's suite, including trading and yield products.
Expanding Access to Digital Assets
The partnership between VALR and Onafriq allows users to fund accounts in local currencies through mobile money, broadening access in a region where traditional banking remains uneven. Onafriq's network reaches nearly 1 billion wallets across 43 markets, with settlement handled in stablecoins or selected cryptocurrencies.
Key Benefits
- Increased access to digital assets for millions of users
- Localized on-ramp into crypto markets built around African payment behavior
- Reduced dependence on conventional banking channels
Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion
Mobile money sits at the center of financial inclusion across much of the continent. Registered mobile money accounts globally reached 2.1 billion by the end of 2024, with more than half a billion monthly active users. In 2024 alone, the sector processed roughly 108 billion transactions worth over $1.68 trillion.
Market Impact
The partnership lands in a market where mobile money is not peripheral infrastructure, but one of the dominant ways value moves. For VALR, the integration extends beyond deposits, allowing users to access the exchange's product set, including spot and margin trading for Bitcoin and more than 100 crypto assets.
VALR's Product Suite
VALR's product suite includes tokenized real-world assets such as gold, equities, and private credit, yield products including lending and staking, and VALR Pay. The exchange serves over 1.7 million registered users and 2,000 corporate and institutional clients worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- VALR integrates Onafriq for mobile money funding, expanding access to digital assets
- Partnership reaches nearly 1 billion wallets across 43 markets
- Localized on-ramp into crypto markets built around African payment behavior
- VALR's product suite includes trading, tokenized assets, yield products, and VALR Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the VALR-Onafriq integration?
The integration connects crypto access to the payment rails millions use, instead of asking users to adopt new financial habits first.
How will the partnership impact the digital asset market in Africa?
The partnership is expected to turn digital assets from a niche financial layer into something more reachable for millions across Africa, increasing financial inclusion and access to digital assets.
