Luno Review 2026

Overview

Luno is South Africa’s most popular cryptocurrency exchange and one of the earliest players in the local market. Founded in 2013, it has become the go-to platform for South Africans buying Bitcoin for the first time. It’s FSCA-licensed, simple to use, and deeply integrated with local payment rails.

Who is Luno best for?

Luno is best suited for beginners who want a simple, trusted platform to buy their first Bitcoin or Ethereum in ZAR. If you’re looking for low maker fees and a broad coin selection, VALR is a better fit. But for pure ease of use, Luno remains the benchmark in SA.

Fees in Detail

Luno charges 0% maker fees on limit orders, meaning if you place an order and wait for it to fill, you pay nothing. Taker fees (instant market orders) are 0.1%, which is reasonable but slightly above VALR’s equivalent.

The Instant Buy feature — popular with beginners — uses a spread-based pricing model rather than a fee. This means you pay a markup on the spot price. For small amounts this is fine; for larger purchases, using the Exchange tab saves money.

ZAR Deposits

Luno supports:

• EFT — standard bank transfer, typically 1–3 business hours
• PayShap — instant ZAR deposits (R3,000 limit per transaction)
• Debit/Credit card — instant but higher cost

FSCA Licensing

Luno is fully licensed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) as a crypto asset service provider. This is a meaningful trust signal — it means they’re subject to ongoing regulatory oversight in South Africa.

Verdict

If you’re new to crypto and want to buy Bitcoin in ZAR with minimal friction, Luno is the right starting point. As your needs grow (more coins, lower fees, advanced orders), you may outgrow it — at which point VALR is the natural upgrade.