Traders Union has analyzed financial markets for over 14 years, evaluating brokers based on 250+ transparent criteria, including security, regulation, and trading conditions. Our expert team of over 50 professionals regularly updates a Watch List of 500+ brokers to provide users with data-driven insights. While our research is based on objective data, we recommend that users perform independent due diligence and consult official regulatory sources before making any financial decisions.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial policies.
Pros & Cons
- a plethora of cryptocurrencies for exchange and trade;
- functional and easy-to-learn trading terminal;
- the presence of an author's application for mobile trading;
- lucrative referral program with discounts and rewards;
- top-tier level of protection of data and user funds;
- all major options for depositing and withdrawing funds;
- low fixed fees for trading operations;
- Crypto4Covid Fund for Covid-19 Affected People.
- the exchange does not offer tutorials;
- only South African rand is presented as fiat;
- communication with technical support can be initiated exclusively through tickets.
The VALR exchange is a renowned cryptocurrency trading platform. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and other cryptocurrencies are at your disposal for trading here. Instantaneous exchange and margin trading are available (but no leverage). Of the fiat funds, only the South African rand is represented. The crypto exchange has a web version of the trading terminal and applications for iOS and Android for mobile trading. The site offers a referral program with four levels of reward. Traders' assets are stored in the Bittrex system, and the platform uses several levels of security to protect users' funds. Fees are fixed and are below the market average.
TU Expert Verdict
VALR demonstrates moderate stability and can suit certain traders. Its conditions are acceptable, and feedback is mixed but reasonable. In my own tests, it performed adequately, though it lacks the consistency of higher-rated companies.
Top-5 Crypto Exchanges Traders Prefer
VALR User Reviews
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5-star
0%
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4-star
5%
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3-star
68%
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2-star
14%
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1-star
14%
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VALR Commissions and Fees
Score:This category evaluates trading costs and the transparency of deposit and withdrawal charges according to the Methodology. It covers spot and futures trading fees, P2P exchange costs, deposit/withdrawal fees, and tiered fee structures. The assessment ensures that fees are competitive and clearly disclosed, avoiding hidden or excessive costs. Each factor is scored based on defined criteria, contributing to the overall rating.8.5 /10VALR has earned a rating of 8.5/10 for its trading fees. This makes it a highly attractive choice for active traders seeking to reduce costs, as VALR is a platform with minimal crypto trading costs.
- Futures fees below industry average
- Spot fee below industry average
- No deposit fee
- Withdrawal fee may be applied
- P2P fee applied
What are VALR trading fees?
We analyzed VALR’s crypto fees and compared them to the top two competitors, both of which hold high average positions in our rankings. To establish a comprehensive benchmark, we also calculated the average fee score based on an evaluation of over 100 cryptocurrency exchanges.
VALR trading fees vs competitors
VALR Nexus Trade CoinMetro Industry average Based on the evaluation of over 100 leading crypto exchanges Spot, maker fee (%) Maker fees are charged when liquidity is added to the order book. This occurs by placing a limit order below the current market price for buy orders, or above the market price for sell orders. 0 0.22 0.1 0.15 Spot, taker fee (%) Taker fees are charged when liquidity is removed from the order book. This typically happens when a trade is executed at the market price. 0.1 0.22 0.2 0.194 Futures, maker fee(%) 0 0 0 0.024 Futures, taker fee(%) 0.04 0 0.053 What are VALR deposit and withdrawal fees?
Deposit fee, % Important! Even if an exchange does not charge fees for deposits and withdrawals, there can also be fees from the payment system or cryptocurrency network used by the user. For example, the network fee for USDT TRC20 is typically around $1. 0-3.9 Withdrawal fee, % 8.5 ZAR Does VALR offer P2P trading?
Yes, VALR offers a P2P trading platform. We have provided the fees for these transactions and compared them with competitors.VALR P2P Fees VALR MaiCoin MAX BTSE P2P maker fee (%) - 0,01 (rebate) 0,1 0,01 P2P taker fee (%) 0 0,15 0,05 -
Regulation and Safety
Score:Our evaluation encompasses several key factors, including government regulation, two-factor authentication (2FA), cold wallet storage of client assets, investor protection funds, KYC protocol adherence, year of foundation, and history of security breaches. Read more in our Methodology7.3 /10With a 7.3/10 score, VALR demonstrates a moderate level of security and regulation. While the platform meets basic safety standards, it may not offer the same level of protection as higher-rated exchanges.
- Investor protection fund
- Cold wallet storage
- 2FA
- Government-regulated
- No successful hacks history
- Not tier-1 regulated
- No facial recognition
- Not U.S regulated
We also compared VALR against the top two competitors with the highest scores in our overall ranking based on the most critical security indicators.
VALR Security Factors VALR OKX Coinbase Tier-1 regulation NoNoYesGovernment-regulated YesYesYesInvestor protection fund Provides compensation to users in case of financial loss due to unforeseen circumstances on the platform. YesYesYes2FA YesYesYesFacial recognition NoYesNoCold wallet storage The majority of user funds are held offline, reducing vulnerability to online attacks. YesYesYesSuccessful hacker attacks We review publicly available information on past security breaches to assess the exchange's security track record. NoNoYesIs VALR a regulated crypto exchange? Regulation is crucial for the security and legitimacy of a cryptocurrency exchange. We assess the exchange’s regulatory status and its impact on platform reliability.
VALR is regulated by a government authority, ensuring compliance with national and international standards. However, it does not hold Tier-1 regulation (e.g., in the U.S., UK, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, Singapore, or other jurisdictions with strict financial oversight). While this regulation provides an added layer of security and legitimacy, it may not offer the highest level of investor protection found in top-tier regulatory environments.
VALR is authorized or licensed in accordance with local regulations in the following regions: South Africa.
Is verification (KYC) mandatory at VALR?
Yes, KYC verification is mandatory at VALR. You will need to complete the verification process before you can open an account and access the platform's full range of services.
Is VALR available in the USA?
VALR is not available in the USA due to regulatory restrictions. In some cases, access might differ by state, so we recommend confirming details with the platform’s support or checking the official website for the latest updates.
You may also consider the top 3 exchanges that are available in the USA and rank highly based on our methodology: OKX, Coinbase, Crypto.com .
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Deposit and Withdrawal
Score:We evaluated the deposit and withdrawal experience, considering several key factors such as the range of available methods, transaction processing speed, minimum deposit requirements, and associated fees. Read more in our Methodology.6.5 /10VALR received a 6.5/10 rating for its deposit and withdrawal services. While VALR covers basic payment options, the platform lacks some widely used methods that could improve user flexibility.
- P2P for flexible transfers
- Many cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals
- Bank transfers for deposits and withdrawals
- Bank cards accepted for instant deposits
- No PayPal option
- Withdrawal fee applies
- Deposit fees apply
Deposit and withdrawal options
VALR supports the following deposit and withdrawal options: Bank transfers, Bank card, Crypto.
VALR Deposit and withdrawal options vs competitors
VALR OKX Coinbase Bank transfers YesNoYesBank card YesYesYesCrypto YesYesYesPayPal NoNoYesWhat is VALR minimum deposit?
The minimum deposit at VALR is 1 USD/USDT or 1 BTC. The minimum trade size is 1 USD/USDT, which also serves as the minimum amount required to start trading on the platform.
VALR minimum deposit vs competitors
VALR OKX Coinbase Minimum deposit, USD or USDT 1 10 10 Minimum deposit, BTC 1 5 1 Minimum trade amount, USD/USDT 1 1 2 Does VALR support fiat money?
VALR supports fiat currency trading and account funding. The following fiat currencies are accepted: USD, ZAR.
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Supported Coins & Markets
Score:Evaluates the range of available cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, and markets, as well as investment tools like staking, farming, and other yield options. Read more in the Methodology section.5.5 /10VALR received a score of 5.5/10 in this category, reflecting a solid selection of tradable assets and markets. VALR supports 0 cryptocurrencies and basic trading types, although some advanced features or asset diversity may be limited compared to leading exchanges.
- Crypto futures available
- Crypto copy trading available
- NFTs available
- No TradFi perpetual futures trading
- Prediction markets are not supported
VALR supported coins and markets vs competitors
We compared VALR with leading exchanges in terms of supported coins, NFT access, and derivatives like futures and options to help users assess the platform’s product range and trading flexibility.
VALR OKX Coinbase Supported coins 600+ 400+ Futures/Perpetual contracts YesYesYesOptions NoYesNoNFTs YesYesYesTokenized Assets Digital tokens representing real-world assets, such as stocks, bonds, commodities, or real estate. NoYesYesTradFi Perps Perpetual futures contracts linked to traditional financial assets, such as stocks, indices, or commodities. NoYesYesPrediction Markets Markets where users trade contracts based on the outcomes of future events. NoNoNoOther Assets NoNoPre-IPO VALR passive income options vs competitors
We also compared VALR with top competitors in terms of passive income opportunities such as staking, farming, and copy trading, to help users evaluate the platform’s earning potential beyond regular trading.
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Trading Apps & Tools
Score:This section evaluates the quality and variety of trading platforms offered by the broker. It considers supported platforms, core features, device compatibility, and the availability of tools for automation, analysis, and different trading styles. Learn more in our Methodology.8.5 /10VALR received a score of 8.5/10 for its trading apps and tools. Its mobile platforms are highly rated on both iOS and Android, delivering smooth performance, advanced charting capabilities, and real-time market data.
- Mobile indicators allowed
- Strategy sharing with Copy Trading
- Positive user feedback on the iOS app
- App data protection with 2FA
- No Face ID
- Advanced orders not available
- No standalone desktop access
Trading apps
VALR provides web and mobile apps for both Android and iOS users, with an average rating of 4.8 on the App Store and 4.7 on Google Play. Our review focused on core features important to traders, particularly trading functionality and security tools, to evaluate how convenient and safe the VALR platform is for mobile use.
VALR OKX Coinbase 2FA YesYesYesFace ID NoYesNoMob Indicators YesYesYesAlerts YesYesYesAdvanced Orders These are specialized trading features that give users more precise control over how trades are executed. Examples include Stop-Limit, Trailing Stop, and OCO (One Cancels the Other). These tools may only be available on the web version of the platform. YesYesYesTrading with bots NoYesNoAPI YesYesYesExtra trading platforms These refer to third-party platforms supported by the crypto exchange in addition to its own proprietary system. NoNoNoDoes VALR offer a desktop app?
No, VALR does not currently offer a desktop app. However, users can access the platform via its web version, which provides more comprehensive functionality compared to the mobile apps.
Does VALR offer advanced charting with TradingView integration?
Yes, VALR offers advanced charting through direct integration with TradingView. Users can access TradingView’s full suite of indicators, drawing tools, and multi-timeframe analysis directly on the platform.
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Customer Support
Score:We evaluated Customer Support at VALR based on the availability of live chat, email, phone support, ticket systems, help center resources, 24/7 assistance, multilingual support, and response time. Our assessment focuses on support accessibility and responsiveness. Learn the assessment criteria6.2 /10VALR offers a moderate level of customer support, covering basic communication channels and assistance options.
In TU testing, the exchange showed mixed results in support accessibility and responsiveness. Certain limitations in contact options, availability, or support resources may make it less convenient for users requiring immediate assistance.
- Support ticket system available
- Comprehensive help center available
- Live chat support available
- Email support unavailable
- Limited language support
VALR Support Channels vs Competitors
VALR OKX Coinbase Live Chat YesNoYesEmail Support NoNoNoPhone Support NoNoNoTicket System YesYesYes24/7 Support YesYesYesHelp Center / FAQ YesYesYesMultilingual Support NoNoYesContacts Foundation date 2018 Registration address 29 Wessel Road, Edenburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2000, South Africa Official site https://valr.com Contacts help@valr.com +27 067 907 5078
Best VALR Alternatives
VALR Video Guides
FAQs
How safe and regulated is the VALR cryptocurrency exchange?
VALR has a safety score of 7.3/10 and is regulated by a government authority in South Africa, which indicates a moderate level of security and regulatory oversight. The exchange uses cold wallet storage, 2FA, and an investor protection fund and has had no successful hacker attacks, but it does not hold Tier-1 or U.S. regulation and does not offer facial recognition.
What trading, deposit, and withdrawal fees can users expect on VALR?
VALR charges 0% maker and 0.1% taker fees on spot trades, and 0% maker and 0.04% taker fees on futures trades. Deposits may range from 0 to 3.9 in fees, withdrawals incur a fee of 8.5 ZAR, and P2P trading includes a maker rebate of -0.01% and a 0% taker fee.
What do user reviews and feedback say about VALR’s overall experience?
VALR has a user satisfaction score of 5.3/10 based on 22 reviews, indicating a mixed overall impression. Most ratings are 3 stars (68%), with smaller shares of 4-star, 2-star, and 1-star reviews, so, according to user reviews, experiences range from neutral to negative and positive.
What markets, assets, and passive income options are available on VALR?
VALR has a markets and tradable assets score of 5.5/10 and supports NFTs, crypto copy trading, and crypto futures, including perpetual contracts, but does not offer options, tokenized assets, traditional finance perpetuals, or prediction markets. For passive income, the exchange provides staking, yield farming, and copy trading, and it supports trading, deposits, and withdrawals in USD and ZAR.
What types of customer support does VALR provide to its users?
VALR has a customer support score of 6.2/10 and offers 24/7 assistance via live chat, a ticket system, and a help center/FAQ. The exchange does not provide email or phone support and does not offer multilingual support.
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