Luno Review 2026: Africa's Go-To Crypto Off-Ramp

Luno is a major crypto exchange serving Africa and Southeast Asia, with strong presence in Nigeria (NGN), South Africa (ZAR), and Kenya (KES). It functions as the primary off-ramp for crypto remittance into African markets.

Verdict: Best African off-ramp for NGN, ZAR, KES

RemitRoutes Score: 91/100 — our computed editorial rating (cost 93, transparency 100, speed 90, coverage 70, crypto rails 100, each out of 100). How we score.

Fees

Luno charges 0.1% maker / 0.1% taker fees on its exchange. Instant buy/sell adds a spread of roughly 0.75-1%. Fiat withdrawal fees to local bank accounts vary by country: NGN withdrawals are typically free, ZAR charges a small flat fee, and KES varies. The total off-ramp cost is usually under 1%.

FX markup

Luno's exchange uses real-time market prices with no added markup. However, BTC and ETH prices on Luno may trade at a premium or discount to global prices depending on local demand. In Nigeria, BTC often trades at a premium; in South Africa, it tends to be closer to the global price.

Pros

• Strong presence in Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya
• Low exchange fees: 0.1% maker/taker on the order book
• NGN fiat withdrawals are typically free
• BTC and ETH liquidity sufficient for remittance volumes

Cons

• Limited crypto selection — primarily BTC and ETH, limited USDC
• BTC price in NGN can deviate significantly from global price
• Instant buy/sell spread of 0.75-1% is higher than exchange trading
• Fiat withdrawal speed varies: same-day in ZAR, up to 24h in NGN

Best for

• Recipients in Nigeria, South Africa, or Kenya converting crypto to local fiat
• BTC and ETH off-ramp for African corridors
• Users who want a locally established, regulated exchange in Africa

Not great for

• USDC-based remittance paths (limited USDC pairs)
• High-value transfers where BTC local premium impacts cost
• Corridors outside Africa and Southeast Asia

Frequently asked questions

How much does Luno charge for selling crypto?

On the exchange order book, Luno charges 0.1% per trade. Using instant buy/sell, the spread is roughly 0.75-1%. For remittance off-ramp use, the exchange order book is recommended for the best rate. NGN fiat withdrawals are typically free.

Is Luno available in Nigeria?

Yes. Luno has a strong presence in Nigeria with NGN fiat pairs for BTC and ETH. Nigerian users can sell crypto and withdraw NGN to their local bank accounts. Luno is one of the most-used crypto platforms in Nigeria.

How fast can I withdraw NGN from Luno?

NGN withdrawals from Luno typically process within a few hours, though some may take up to 24 hours depending on banking hours and compliance checks. ZAR withdrawals in South Africa are often same-day during business hours.

Does Luno support USDC?

Luno has limited USDC support. Its primary trading pairs are BTC/NGN, BTC/ZAR, ETH/NGN, and ETH/ZAR. For USDC-based remittance paths, alternative off-ramps like Quidax (Nigeria) or VALR (South Africa) may offer better USDC liquidity.

Is Luno safe?

Luno is owned by Digital Currency Group and has operated since 2013 with no major security incidents. It holds regulatory approvals in South Africa and complies with local financial regulations in its operating markets. Customer funds are stored in a combination of hot and cold wallets.

Measured costs today

Live all-in cost (transfer fee + FX markup) from RemitRoutes' measured data — as of 1h ago · refreshed every 6 hours. See all corridors →

Corridor	Country	All-in cost	Recipient gets (per $1,000)
USD → NGN	Nigeria	-2.10%	1,394,420.03 NGN

Compare live rates across 370+ corridors on RemitRoutes · methodology.