Farzam Ehsani - Afrikan Heroes

How South African Crypto Startup VALR Processed $10B in 5 Years

October 2, 2023

South African cryptocurrency startup VALR has achieved a significant milestone by processing over $10 billion in trading volume since its establishment in 2018. Founded by former Rand Merchant Bank executive Farzam Ehsani, VALR’s accomplishment highlights the growing presence of cryptocurrency trading in South Africa.

At the current exchange rate, this trading volume amounts to approximately R190 billion. VALR, which claims to be Africa’s largest Bitcoin exchange by trading volume, shared this achievement in a recent statement.

Additionally, VALR announced that it has received preliminary approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara) as part of its global expansion strategy. This expansion is being pursued through VALR’s subsidiary, VALR FZE.

Since its inception, VALR has successfully raised $55 million in funding and currently serves a customer base of over half a million retail clients and around 900 corporate and institutional customers. The company now aims to replicate its success on a global scale by establishing operations in Dubai and targeting markets in Asia, the Middle East, and the United Arab Emirates.

While this preliminary approval from Vara does not immediately permit VALR to offer virtual asset services in Dubai, it is considered a significant step towards the company’s goal of establishing a virtual asset exchange in the region. VALR emphasized its commitment to maintaining high standards of operational integrity, regulatory compliance, and security.

Farzam Ehsani, co-founder of VALR, expressed the importance of this milestone, stating, “Obtaining initial approval from Vara is a significant milestone that marks a major step forward in VALR’s global expansion plans.”

Blake Player, VALR’s head of growth, also noted, “We see Asia, the Middle East, and the United Arab Emirates as attractive markets with significant crypto flows. Dubai is quickly gaining recognition as a forward-thinking and pragmatic jurisdiction for crypto businesses.”

In conclusion, VALR’s achievement of processing $10 billion in trading volume over five years illustrates the growing presence of cryptocurrency trading in South Africa. Its plans for international expansion through its Dubai offices reflect its ambition to further contribute to the global cryptocurrency landscape while adhering to regulatory standards.

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Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard

Crypto Exchange VALR Raises $50m Funding to Expand Across Africa

March 4, 2022

Farzam Ehsani, VALR’s CEO and co-founder

VALR, the South African cryptocurrency exchange, has raised a US$50 million Series B funding round that values the company at US$240 million, and will use the proceeds to expand across the continent.

Launched in 2019, VALR is a digital asset platform that allows customers to buy, sell, store and transfer Bitcoin and 60 other cryptocurrencies – the widest selection of any platform in Africa – seamlessly and securely. It has so far processed over US$7.5 billion in trading volume, and serves over 250,000 retail customers and 500 institutional clients from across the world.

The startup raised its Series A in 2020, and its oversubscribed US$50 million Series B funding round was led by Pantera Capital with participation from Alameda Research, Cadenza, CMT Digital, Coinbase Ventures, Distributed Global, GSR, Third Prime and Avon Ventures, along with existing investors Bittrex and 4Di Capital, and others.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

South Africa’s VALR Lands Largest Funding Round For A Crypto Exchange In Africa

March 2, 2022

Local crypto entrepreneurs are starting to raise more capital to expand their enterprises, thanks to the growing use of cryptocurrencies in Africa. This is especially true for VALR, a South African crypto-currency exchange that just completed a series B equity investment round. It was able to raise $50 million as a result of the operation, making it the largest capital raised by an African crypto exchange to date.

VALR’s CEO and co-founder, Farzam Ehsani

Conquer the African market and that of India

VALR was able to secure this record fundraising thanks to the support of key crypto venture capital firms including as Pantera Capital, Alameda Research, and Coinbase Ventures. This $50 million fundraising round raises the exchange’s valuation to $240 million, representing a 10x increase in value. VALR claims to have processed over $7.5 billion in trading volume since the beginning of 2019. According to CoinMarketCap, it now earns roughly 420 BTC in trading volume from 69 pairs.

Development of crypto services for institutions

After individuals, VALR now intends to attract more institutional clients from the continent, such as banks and insurance companies. As a result, the exchange has chosen to create a platform for the latter that includes a wide range of crypto services. He expects to be able to supply them with the crypto infrastructure they will require in the future.

“Cryptocurrencies will become increasingly important in our daily lives. VALR is here to assist our institutional clients in making the transition from the old to the new financial system,” Mr. Ehsani said.

VALR’s record fundraising is merely a reflection of investors’ growing interest in the African crypto sector, which has tremendous development potential. Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, recognized this by becoming the exclusive crypto sponsor of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which concluded last month.

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Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

The Bitcoin Exchange VALR, Raises $3.4m Series A funding

July 22, 2020

VALR, the innovative bitcoin exchange which is the largest in South Africa judging by trading volume has raised $3.4 million (57 million rands) in a new Series A funding to help it roll out new products and launch in additional markets. This became necessary after the Johannesburg-based firm launched its digital asset trading platform after securing US$1.5 million in a funding round led by the US-based Bittrex and former FNB chief executive officer (CEO) Michael Jordaan’s Montegray Capital.

VALR, which allows customers to buy, sell, store and transfer more than 50 cryptocurrencies seamlessly and securely, now has over 40,000 customers and has seen over 13,000 bitcoin traded over the last month. It is now set for further expansion, both from a product and a geographic perspective, after raising a Series A round worth $3.4 million. The round was led by 100x Ventures, the investment arm of 100x Group, with participation from the South Africa-based 4Di Capital and continued support from Bittrex and Jordaan.

VALR will use the proceeds from the capital raise to build new products and services, expand into new territories, and continue to build its team of professionals, particularly in the technology, regulatory and compliance, and client service domains.

“I am very grateful that despite the challenging global COVID-19 pandemic that has adversely affected many businesses around the world, VALR has been able to grow at a phenomenal pace and we’ve been able to raise funds and partner with a set of world-class investors, adding to our already distinguished group of shareholders,” said Farzam Ehsani, VALR’s CEO and co-founder.

Arthur Hayes, CEO and co-founder of 100x Group, said South Africa had an “incredibly exciting and fast-growing” cryptocurrency ecosystem, and that he believes VALR is well-placed to capitalise on future growth of bitcoin trading.“In VALR we’re backing not only a successful early-stage business, but a management team with the ability to scale operations significantly,” he said.

Justin Stanford, co-founding general partner at 4Di Capital, said his company had been looking for an appropriate investment in the cryptocurrency sector for some years, and was “delighted” to be backing what he described as “such a high quality business and management team”.

“VALR has shown great integrity and leadership coupled with impressive growth, and delivers a mature, institutional grade offering to the local market,” adding that “this is becoming a necessary component in all markets the world over, as the crypto asset ecosystem becomes increasingly more accepted and integrated into the global financial system.”

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

South Africa’s Biggest Bitcoin Exchange VALR Raises $3.4 Million From India-based VC Firm 100X Ventures

July 21, 2020

VALR, South Africa’s largest bitcoin exchange has just secured ZAR57 million (US$3.4 million) in Series A funding round to enable it launch new products and make entry into additional markets.

“I am very grateful that despite the challenging global COVID-19 pandemic that has adversely affected many businesses around the world, VALR has been able to grow at a phenomenal pace and we’ve been able to raise funds and partner with a set of world-class investors, adding to our already distinguished group of shareholders,” said Farzam Ehsani, VALR’s CEO and co-founder.

Here Is What You Need To Know

The latest funding round was led by 100x Ventures, the investment arm of 100x Group. Also participating is local VC firm 4Di Capital, as well as previous investors Bittrex and Jordaan.
With the new funding, VALR will build new products and services, expand into new territories, as well as continue to build its team of professionals, particularly in the technology, regulatory and compliance, and client service domains.
VALR had in 2019, raised US$1.5 million in a funding round led by the US-based Bittrex and former FNB chief executive officer (CEO) Michael Jordaan’s Montegray Capital, to assist the launch of its digital asset trading platform.

Why The Investors Invested

This is the first commitment of the India-based 100x Ventures into an African entity. The VC invests in at least 100 startups every twelve months. Its traditional ticket sizes range between INR 2.5 million ($33k) to 10 million ($133k) per startup using India SAFE Notes, standing for India Simple Agreement for Future Equity, a convertible instrument that an investor [iSafe note holder] gets in return for making a cash investment in a startup. The VC emphasizes that it mostly backs startups based on their founding teams; market size opportunity; business model strength; unfair advantage; moat; conviction of a minimum 20X returns.

Arthur Hayes, CEO and co-founder of 100x Group, said South Africa had an “incredibly exciting and fast-growing” cryptocurrency ecosystem, and that he believes VALR is well-placed to capitalise on future growth of bitcoin trading.

“In VALR, we’re backing not only a successful early-stage business, but a management team with the ability to scale operations significantly,” he said.

“VALR has shown great integrity and leadership coupled with impressive growth, and delivers a mature, institutional grade offering to the local market,” Justin Stanford, co-founding general partner at 4Di Capital said.

“This is becoming a necessary component in all markets the world over, as the crypto asset ecosystem becomes increasingly more accepted and integrated into the global financial system.”

Standford further said his company had been looking for an appropriate investment in the cryptocurrency sector for some years, and was “delighted” to be backing what he described as “such a high quality business and management team”.

A Look At What VALR Does

Co-founded in 2018 by former blockchain lead at Rand Merchant Bank Farzam Ehsani, VALR.com is a digital asset trading platform where you can buy, sell, store and transfer cryptocurrencies seamlessly and securely. It offers one of the widest selections of digital assets.

The exchange has over 40,000 customers and has seen over 13,000 bitcoin traded over the last month.

“Our goal is to usher in a new financial paradigm that makes financial services available to the public with pricing that is fair and transparent, and with an experience that is intuitive and seamless,” says CEO Farzam Ehsani, CEO

Ehsani’s journey into the tech world started with his attending primary and secondary school in Kenya, and then UC Berkeley in California.

His adventure into the blockchain scene started when he was tasked to help set up RMB’s Fintech Unit in January 2016, after “asking many questions to the bank’s leadership about Bitcoin and blockchain technology”.

“At the time no one had heard of the term ‘blockchain’, and everyone associated Bitcoin with drugs and the dark net,” he said.

After leading the blockchain work at the bank for over two years, he realized there was a “limited appetite” for banks to enter the cryptocurrency space.

“I then left to start VALR with my co-founders,” Ehsani said in an interview.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer