10 Best Crypto Exchanges in South Africa for 2026: Secure and Regulated

Crypto Content Writer

Marina Avramovikj

Crypto Content Writer

Marina Avramovikj

Part of the Team Since

Apr 2025

Author Categories

Exchanges Wallet Trading Crypto Hacks

About Author

Marina is a content writer with over 5 years of experience in the cryptocurrency space. Her specialty is writing reviews and guides for centralized and decentralized crypto exchanges and crypto...

Has Also Written

• 7 Best Polymarket Wallets For Secure Trading in 2026
• 10 Best USDC Wallets for 2026 for Fast and Cheap Transactions
• Does Coinbase Report to the IRS? (2026)
• 8 Best SUI Wallets in February 2026 (Hot & Cold Options)
• 6 Best Exchanges to Short Crypto in the USA in 2026

Author Profile

Share

Copied

Fact Checked by

Tsvetomir Koychev

Content Lead

Tsvetomir Koychev

Part of the Team Since

Feb 2025

Author Categories

Exchanges Wallet Security Crypto Regulation

About Author

Tsvetomir is a Crypto Editor and Writer at Cryptonews, where he produces data-backed and impactful content focused on cryptocurrencies, exchanges, wallets, and blockchain technology.

Has Also Written

• 11 Best Crypto Wallets for January 2026
• 15 Best Crypto Wallets in South Africa for 2026
• Best Crypto Wallets in Australia for February 2026

Author Profile

Ad Disclosure

Ad Disclosure

We believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships. However, this potential compensation never influences our analysis, opinions, or reviews. Our editorial content is created independently of our marketing partnerships, and our ratings are based solely on our established evaluation criteria. Read More

Last updated: 

December 15, 2025

Based on our research, PrimeXBT is currently the best crypto exchange in South Africa. This FSCA-licensed exchange supports direct ZAR deposits via credit/debit cards and bank transfers. It’s also partnered with multiple South African banks, enabling it to provide instant ZAR withdrawals.

Although cryptocurrencies are legal in South Africa, crypto exchanges were not required to obtain an FSCA license until 2023. This made compiling our list a challenging task. Our ranking methodology covered key aspects such as regulatory compliance, available markets, ZAR support, trading tools and services, security, and ease of use.

We tested over 30 platforms to identify the top 10 crypto exchanges in South Africa, which we’ll discuss in more detail to help you find the one that suits you best.

10 Best Crypto Exchanges in South Africa: Full Reviews

Now that you’ve seen our list, it’s time to learn what makes these platforms stand out from the competition and what their main strengths and limitations are.

1. PrimeXBT – The Best Crypto Exchange in South Africa Overall

PrimeXBT is a centralized crypto exchange that recently expanded its operations to South Africa. This FSCA-licensed platform enables trading crypto, commodities, shares, forex, and indices. You can also trade futures, FX, and CDFs with leverage.

The exchange supports ZAR deposits via credit/debit cards (minimum deposit of R300) and bank transfers (minimum deposit of R1,000). PrimeXBT is partnered with multiple South African banks, including Absa, Nedbank, Investec, African Bank, and Capitec Bank, which enables it to support instant withdrawals for most transactions.

The withdrawal fee for credit/debit cards is 3.5% plus R30, while for bank transfers, the fee is R150. ZAR deposits will be automatically converted to USD, allowing you to trade crypto assets denominated in USD.

2. Coinbase – Top-Rated South African Crypto Exchange for Beginners

Coinbase is recognized as one of the most beginner-friendly exchanges thanks to its clean interface and learn platform, where you’ll find multiple tips and tutorials related to crypto trading. This platform has recently partnered with Yellow Card, which means that Coinbase Wallet users in SA can now buy USDC via local payment methods, as well as receive USDC using Coinbase’s Base chain.

SA traders can also earn USDC rewards on the Base app and trade Coinbase Wrapped BTC (cbBTC). However, they won’t be able to convert USDC back into fiat. They can only convert USDC into other cryptos.

The biggest downside of this platform is its higher-than-industry-standard trading fees. This makes Coinbase less suitable for day traders. Moreover, Coinbase doesn’t support direct ZAR deposits and withdrawals.

3. Luno – Best Crypto Exchange for Direct ZAR Deposits

Luno is one of the few crypto exchanges that support direct ZAR deposits and withdrawals. On that note, you can fund your account using direct bank transfers (EFT) and instant deposits. You can also buy cryptocurrencies using a debit or credit card. The fees range from 3.9% for card purchases and 1.4% for instant deposits.

Standard withdrawals incur no fees, while express withdrawals carry a fee of R20.00 (if your bank is an RTC participant) or R80.00 (if your bank is not an RTC participant). SA traders can take advantage of Luno Pay. This service lets you use the Luno wallet to pay for goods and services by scanning a QR code. However, this service is only available at Pick’n Pay stores.

Besides trading crypto, you can win up to $10,000 in Bitcoin by predicting its price, invest in 60+ stocks and ETFs, and earn up to 11% APY by staking ADA, ETH, NEAR, DOT, ATOM, and SOL.

4. Best Wallet – Best Crypto Exchange in South Africa for No-KYC Trading

If you’re looking for crypto wallets with built-in exchanges, opt for Best Wallet. This non-custodial multi-chain wallet features an integrated DEX that enables swapping over 1,000 cryptocurrencies across Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Base, and Solana networks. You can also invest in presale tokens and interact with a wide range of dApps directly from the wallet.

To purchase crypto with ZAR, you’ll have to use third-party providers, like Alchemy, Banxa, Coinify, and Gate. For example, Alchemy supports ZAR deposits via local banks, while Banxa supports ZAR payments via Visa/Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and bank transfers (ACH).

Best Wallet is available as a mobile app (Android and iOS). It doesn’t require KYC verification, meaning you can trade crypto anonymously, and it’s insured by Fireblocks.

5. Binance – Best SA Exchange for Day Traders

Next on our list of South African crypto exchanges is the behemoth in the crypto world – Binance. Binance is recognized as a crypto exchange with some of the lowest trading fees that start at 0.01%. Moreover, BNB token holders can get an additional 25% discount on trading fees, which makes Binance ideal for day traders.

The platform supports spot, futures, copy trading, margin trading, and options. However, options trading is no longer available to SA users. On a positive note, Binance supports direct ZAR deposits via linked bank accounts, bank transfers (EFT), and credit/debit cards. Plus, you can withdraw ZAR to your linked bank account via Stitch.

We also noticed that Binance frequently offers zero-fee ZAR deposit promotions to all new users in South Africa.

6. OKX – Top-Rated Crypto Exchange in South Africa for P2P Trading

OKX is a great cryptocurrency exchange for peer-to-peer (P2P) traders. You can use ZAR to buy 340+ cryptocurrencies via its P2P platform for zero fees. Moreover, you can use a wide range of payment options, including debit/credit cards, Payeer, ABA Bank, Payoneer, and Wing Money, or post buy and sell ads by becoming a merchant. Anyone who creates and verifies their account on OKX will be eligible to trade on the P2P marketplace. However, only Lite members can post buy ads in ZAR.

We noticed that OKX occasionally launches P2P campaigns exclusively for African users. In the last campaign, SA users could share a 500 USDT prize pool by joining the OKX Africa Telegram group, following OKX on X, and referring 10 new eligible users to join the OKX Africa communities.

In addition to P2P trading, OKX offers futures and spot trading with leverage, options, and copy trading. Plus, you can use pre-built trading bots or test your trading skills via a demo account.

7. AltCoinTrader – Best South African Crypto Exchange for Staking

AltcoinTrader is a South African-based crypto exchange that enables buying and selling crypto with ZAR and vice versa. This platform is ideal for SA traders who are into staking. You can stake xZAR, DOT, SOL, TAO, AVAX, TRX, TON, POL, ADA, SUI, ETH, and BNB for zero fees and with no lock-in periods. The platform also lets you make a deposit using ZAR, crypto, or gold/silver. Supported payment methods include bank transfers (EFT), Capitec Pay, and Simplex credit card.

AltcoinTrader charges a 0.5% deposit fee for ZAR bank transfers (the maximum fee is R95.00 per transaction) and a 2% fee for Capitec Pay deposits. You’ll also have to pay an additional 5% for all cash deposits, while the fee for its Easy Buy & Sell service stands at 0.75%.

Like Binance, AltCoinTrader charges 0.1% maker and taker fees. However, the platform supports only 40 cryptocurrencies, which makes it less suitable for diversification.

8. eToro – Best Crypto Exchange in SA for Trading Stocks

eToro is our number one pick for trading stocks. You can trade over 6620 stocks on 20 exchanges for a fixed commission fee that ranges between $1 and $2 for opening and closing a position. You can also invest in whole units or fractional shares. In addition to stocks, SA users can trade crypto, ETFs, commodities, and indices.

We noticed that the minimum first deposit requirement varies depending on your country of residence. On that note, the minimum first deposit requirement for SA users stands at $2,000. The platform supports opening an account in three currencies – USD, GBP, and EUR. This means that for ZAR deposits and withdrawals, you must pay a conversion fee that ranges between 1.5% and 3%. eToro also charges a fixed withdrawal fee of $5.

eToro supports multiple deposit methods, including debit/credit cards and e-wallets (PayPal, Neteller). In addition to that, it offers swap-free accounts (Islamic accounts) with zero interest on open positions.

9. VALR – Best Crypto Exchange in South Africa For Institutional Traders

VALR is a centralized exchange based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This platform supports staking, lending, spot, futures, margin trading, as well as tokenized stocks. Institutional traders can take advantage of its highly adaptable and scalable sub-accounts, white-glove OTC service, and a free money transfer app (VALR Pay) that enables instant payments in crypto or fiat.

You can use ZAR to make a deposit via bank transfers (EFT) or credit/debit cards. Bank deposits are free, while card deposits come with a 3.9% fee. VALR offers multiple options for buying crypto. You can use the simple buy/sell option to buy crypto directly with USDC or ZAR, or enable the auto buy feature to purchase multiple cryptocurrencies directly from your bank account. Both options come with a fixed 1.6% fee.

We also liked VALR’s crypto competitions. For example, if you buy R1,000 in crypto, you can earn R200.

10. Yellow Card – Best South African Crypto Exchange to Buy/Sell Altcoins Using Local Fiat Currencies

Yellow Card is an on-/off ramp platform that lets you buy and sell popular cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, like BTC, ETH, USDC, and USDT, using local fiat currencies like ZAR. You can make a deposit using bank transfers (EFT) for a fee of 1.15%. However, we noticed that the transaction limit for South African users is R200 (minimum purchase amount) and R100,000 (maximum purchase amount).

Yellow Card supports standard and instant EFT withdrawals. The former comes with a 1.15% fee, while the latter requires a payment of R12. The platform’s standout feature is its on-ramp/off-ramp widget, which allows buying crypto from any exchange or dApp with local fiat currencies. The widget supports 20 countries across the African continent, and it handles full KYC, AML, and transaction monitoring.

On the downside, Yellow Card doesn’t support ZAR deposits via credit/debit cards. Plus, you can only trade 11 digital assets, which is quite limiting compared to other exchanges on our list.

Types of Crypto Exchanges in South Africa

A South African crypto exchange can be centralized or decentralized. It can also support Peer-to-peer (P2P) and in-wallet trading. In the next segment, we’ll explain how each model works.

Centralized Exchanges

Centralized exchanges (CEXs), such as Coinbase and Binance, are operated by a central authority that acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers. This means that the exchange will be responsible for your funds and private keys. Crypto transactions on CEXs are usually settled off-chain, on a centralized server, which reduces their costs. They also operate in accordance with KYC and AML regulations.

The main advantages of centralized exchanges include user-friendliness, high liquidity, and support for fiat conversions. However, since they hold large amounts of funds, CEXs are more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Moreover, they may face regulatory and compliance issues, which can lead to account freezes and withdrawal restrictions.

Decentralized Exchanges

Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are not operated by a central authority, meaning you’ll have full control over your private keys and funds. You’ll also conduct trades anonymously, that is, without the need to go through KYC requirements. Instead of order books, DEXs use automated market makers or smart contracts to conduct trades on-chain. This means that you won’t have to wait for another trader to match your order since the process will be automated.

The main limitations of DEXs are the lack of fiat-on/off-ramp options and lower trading volumes. Plus, you won’t be able to trade crypto against fiat – you can only trade crypto-crypto or crypto-stablecoin pairs. On a positive note, DEXs often support small-cap tokens with the potential to explode, making them suitable for early-stage investors (if we exclude the risk of rug pulls).

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Marketplaces

Peer-to-Peer platforms enable crypto trading between two individuals without intermediaries. They will hold the assets in escrow until both parties confirm the transaction. P2P platforms charge low to no fees. For example, OKX and Binance enable buying crypto via their P2P platforms for zero fees.

P2P platforms also support more payment options compared to traditional exchanges, making them suitable for traders who want to use ZAR. On the downside, P2P platforms offer lower liquidity than CEXs. This can be an issue if you want to trade niche altcoins, as you may have difficulty finding a match.

In-Wallet Trading

Some crypto exchanges offer native wallets, enabling you to trade crypto directly from the wallet app, i.e., without the need to transfer your assets to a separate exchange. For example, Best Wallet is a non-custodial wallet that enables crypto swaps through its built-in DEX that connects with hundreds of liquidity pools.

However, crypto wallets (especially hot wallets) are vulnerable to hacks and phishing attacks. Plus, they require technical knowledge, such as understanding seed phrases, backups, and address verifications.

Who Regulates Crypto Exchanges in South Africa?

Crypto Exchanges in South Africa are regulated by the following bodies:

FAQs