Most crypto bundles tell you what’s inside. Few explain why, or how it’s actually built.
BlueChip+ combines $BTC, $ETH, and tokenised stocks in established technology companies, rebalanced every quarter, in a single investment.
Read the full story on our newsroom: https://t.co/3zUw3s0yZu
*Available to Luno customers in South Africa.
Luno
Regulated centralized crypto exchange and custodial wallet founded in 2013 and owned by Digital Currency Group
3.7/ 5
Our score
Good
Maker fee
0.1%
Taker fee
0.1%
Coins listed
50
KYC required
Yes
Accepts US customers
No
What is Luno?
Luno is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange and custodial wallet platform founded in 2013, serving retail and institutional users across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Acquired by Digital Currency Group in 2020, the platform provides direct fiat off-ramps and trading interfaces tailored to local banking rails.
Company background and governance
Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, Luno operates with an international workforce of roughly 700 employees. The company functions under the umbrella of parent firm Digital Currency Group. Regulatory engagement is led by public policy executives such as Thomas Tudehope, who steered the company through digital asset registration with France's AMF.
Trading mechanics and asset support
Luno offers two primary transaction flows: a spot order book exchange and an instant purchase interface. On the central exchange, users execute trades directly against order books at market prices with no added markup. The catalog spans over 50 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and recently introduced tokens such as BNB, DOGE, and HYPE. The platform also provides a custodial wallet service for holding assets and a merchant payment rail, Luno Pay, which lets South African users spend digital rands at retail checkout counters.
Fee structure and off-ramp pricing
The exchange charges a flat 0.10% maker fee and 0.10% taker fee on its central order book. Transactions conducted through the instant buy and sell module include a spread of 0.75% to 1.00% built into the quoted price. Fiat withdrawal costs reflect local banking systems: Nigerian naira withdrawals are free, South African rand transfers incur small flat charges, and overall off-ramp expenses generally remain under 1%.
Licensing and operational track record
Luno has amassed over 9 million registered customers worldwide since its inception in 2013. In August 2022, France's Autorité des Marchés Financiers granted Luno digital asset service provider registration, authorizing digital asset custody, exchange operations, and trading services. The company also holds a Financial Services Provider license from South Africa's Financial Sector Conduct Authority.
Risks and custody trade-offs
Using Luno involves standard centralized exchange counterparty risks, as the service operates a custodial wallet architecture where user deposits remain under company control. The platform does not serve US residents, mandates full identity verification before trading, and imposes price spreads on instant conversions rather than routing orders through the cheaper exchange book.
Founders
Marcus SwanepoelCo-founder
Former investment banker at Morgan Stanley and management consultant.
Timothy StranexCo-founder
Former software engineer at Google.
Best for:South African and Nigerian crypto tradersEuropean retail spot market buyersUsers needing direct local fiat withdrawals
Pros and cons
Pros
- Flat 0.10% maker and taker fees on exchange order books
- AMF-registered in France and FSCA-licensed in South Africa
- Free domestic fiat withdrawals for Nigerian naira balances
- Operational track record dating back to 2013, owned by DCG since 2020
Cons
- Instant buy transactions incur spreads between 0.75% and 1.00%
- Not available to customers residing in the United States
- Custodial structure leaves user funds under company counterparty control
- Mandatory KYC identity verification is required before trading
Our review
3.7/5
Good
Luno delivers a regulated fiat on-ramp with competitive 0.10% exchange fees, but its catalog of around 50 assets excludes advanced traders wanting derivatives or broad token selections.
Founded in 2013 and acquired by Digital Currency Group in 2020, London-headquartered Luno operates as a regulated fiat gateway and cryptocurrency exchange. It is registered as a digital asset service provider (DASP) with France's Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) and licensed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa. The platform serves over nine million registered users, maintaining deep liquidity rails in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Malaysia, France, and the United Kingdom.
Trading costs depend on execution mode. Orders placed directly on the central limit order book incur a flat 0.10% maker and 0.10% taker fee. Using the Instant Buy interface introduces an execution spread typically between 0.75% and 1.00%, making simple debit card or quick balance conversions substantially more expensive than trading on the order book. Local currency off-ramps are cost-effective, offering free Nigerian naira withdrawals alongside low flat fees for South African rand withdrawals, keeping total off-ramp overhead generally under 1%.
Luno emphasizes simplicity and regional compliance over asset variety. The platform lists slightly more than 50 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Dogecoin, and Hyperliquid (HYPE). It does not provide margin trading, derivatives, or decentralized wallet integrations. Users looking for extensive altcoin catalogs or complex automated order types will find the catalog narrow.
The exchange functions well for retail buyers and regional investors needing direct bank transfers and reliable local fiat settlement.
Sources (1)
Specs
| Markets | Spot · unverified |
|---|---|
| Maker fee | 0.1% · unverified |
| Taker fee | 0.1% · unverified |
| Coins listed | 50 · unverified |
| KYC required ⓘ | Yes · unverified |
| Accepts US customers | No · unverified |
| Mobile app | Yes · unverified |
| Licenses & registrations | France AMF DASP, South Africa FSCA FSP · unverified |
| Futures & perpetuals | No · unverified |
| Copy trading | No · unverified |
Not disclosed by the provider: Fiat deposit methods, Proof of reserves, Staking / earn, Security features, Max leverage (x), P2P market, Earn / savings products, User protection fund, Referral program.
Data from the provider's website and public sources. Fees and availability change; confirm on the official site before you sign up.
Key features
Central order book exchange
Executes spot market orders directly against public order books at a flat 0.10% maker and 0.10% taker fee.
Instant buy and sell
Converts fiat directly into cryptocurrency with a quoted spread ranging from 0.75% to 1.00%.
Custodial storage wallet
Safeguards user balances across more than 50 supported cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ether, and BNB.
Local fiat bank rails
Connects directly with domestic payment clearing in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, the UK, and Europe.
Luno Pay retail checkout
Enables users in South Africa to spend digital rands directly at retail locations including Engen forecourts.
Inside Luno
Luno Exchange
The central limit order book platform where traders buy and sell supported cryptocurrencies against fiat and crypto pairs at 0.10% maker and taker fees.
Instant Buy/Sell
A simplified purchasing interface that swaps fiat and digital assets immediately with an added spread of 0.75% to 1.00%.
Luno Custody Wallet
A custodial multi-asset storage service built into the account for depositing, sending, and holding supported tokens.
Luno Pay
A point-of-sale payment feature in the mobile app that lets users in select regions like South Africa spend crypto balances at partner merchants.
What users say about Luno
User feedback specifically detailing personal experiences with the platform is minimal, though it is recognized as an established and legitimate exchange.
Scam warning: Scammers direct victims to fake platforms masquerading as the real exchange while promising guaranteed returns and asking for upfront fees.
Based on 4 Reddit posts and comments from the last 12 months, checked Oct 21, 2026. These are posts by users on other sites, not reviews submitted on CryptoReview.
User reviews
No user reviews yet. Have you used Luno? Share your experience below.
Funding and investors
1Round
1Investor
-
Acquisition Jan 2020 Amount undisclosed
FAQ
Who owns Luno?
Luno was founded in 2013 and was acquired by Digital Currency Group in 2020. The company operates from its headquarters in London, United Kingdom.
What trading fees does Luno charge?
Luno charges a 0.10% maker fee and a 0.10% taker fee on its order book exchange. Conversions made through the Instant Buy service include an added spread between 0.75% and 1.00%.
Which countries can use Luno?
Luno is available in selected markets across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Malaysia, France, and the United Kingdom. It does not accept customers from the United States.
Is Luno a regulated crypto exchange?
Yes. Luno holds a digital asset service provider registration with the AMF in France and a financial services provider license from the FSCA in South Africa.
Does Luno offer futures or margin trading?
No, Luno only supports spot trading and direct fiat purchases. It does not provide leveraged derivatives, futures, or margin products.
Latest from Luno on X
The digital rand is gaining serious momentum for everyday spending 🇿🇦
According to a new report by @MoneyBadgerPay, @ZARUniversal now makes up 7.7% of checkout spend on its network, with monthly checkout value up 2.6x since June.
We’re proud to see @LunoGlobal Pay helping South Africans pay seamlessly with ZARU and earn 15% back in digital gold.
Read the full report: https://t.co/VEJQdGfFPx
According to a new report by @MoneyBadgerPay, @ZARUniversal now makes up 7.7% of checkout spend on its network, with monthly checkout value up 2.6x since June.
We’re proud to see @LunoGlobal Pay helping South Africans pay seamlessly with ZARU and earn 15% back in digital gold.
Read the full report: https://t.co/VEJQdGfFPx
When a customer in New York pays a supplier in Jakarta, no dollars leave New York.
SWIFT sends an instruction. The money moves when ledgers agree.
Four costs, bundled into one number you never see itemised.
https://t.co/OkyObJsTY0 https://t.co/qPwQfuJSse
SWIFT sends an instruction. The money moves when ledgers agree.
Four costs, bundled into one number you never see itemised.
https://t.co/OkyObJsTY0 https://t.co/qPwQfuJSse
Anthropic’s S-1 landed with an $80 billion net loss as the headline number, mostly a non-cash charge tied to its own valuation. Revenue still grew fast.
This week’s Probably Nothing breaks it all down. https://t.co/IBk7LoekVr https://t.co/kC5hnWQzN4
This week’s Probably Nothing breaks it all down. https://t.co/IBk7LoekVr https://t.co/kC5hnWQzN4
Final days for lower fees on @ZARUniversal pair trading.
Until 3 November, trade ZARU/USDT and ZARU/USDC on @LunoGlobal with maker rebates of up to 0.02%.
Move directly between dollar stablecoins and rand-backed ZARU, on chain, instantly, 24/7.
T&Cs apply: https://t.co/mm69LZtpl7
Until 3 November, trade ZARU/USDT and ZARU/USDC on @LunoGlobal with maker rebates of up to 0.02%.
Move directly between dollar stablecoins and rand-backed ZARU, on chain, instantly, 24/7.
T&Cs apply: https://t.co/mm69LZtpl7
Recent public posts from @LunoGlobal, shown as published. Not reviewed or endorsed by CryptoReview.
Alternatives to Luno
Institutional liquidity and turnkey trading infrastructure supporting over 1,500 instruments
KYC requiredSpot · Margin +2Futures & perpetualsBank transfer · Card
Regulated U.S. crypto exchange with 0% spot maker fees and over 200 listed assets
KYC requiredSpot · OTCAccepts US customersProof of reserves
Non-custodial swap aggregator offering wallet-to-wallet trading across 2,800+ cryptocurrencies
No KYCSpot2,800 coins listedCard
Regulated Canadian crypto marketplace acquired by Robinhood with Interac e-Transfer funding
KYC requiredSpot · OTCStaking / earn45 coins listed
European multi-asset broker offering 650+ cryptocurrencies, stocks, and precious metals under MiCAR rules
KYC requiredSpot · MarginStaking / earn650 coins listed
European crypto exchange with 453 assets, MiCA authorization and fees from 0.00%
Spot · MarginStaking / earnMaker fee 0.2%