# Luno

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/luno
> research date 2026-06-01 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Luno — official](https://www.luno.com/)

## Key details

- **Parent:** Marcus Swanepoel and Timothy Stranex
- **Launch:** 2013
- **Users:** 10M customers

## Overview
**Luno** is **an emerging-markets-focused cryptocurrency exchange and wallet**, especially prominent in Africa (South Africa, Nigeria) and parts of Southeast Asia and Europe <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [South Africa report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ZA)</sup>. It pairs a beginner-friendly buy/sell/store app with local fiat on/off-ramps in markets that larger exchanges underserve.

## History
**2013 — founded as BitX** in Cape Town and Singapore by Marcus Swanepoel and Timothy Stranex, targeting emerging-market crypto adoption.
**2017 — rebrands to Luno** and expands across Africa, Southeast Asia and the UK/Europe.
**2020 — acquired by Digital Currency Group (DCG)**, becoming DCG's consumer exchange arm.
**2021–2023 — scales past ~10M customers** and pursues local licensing in South Africa, Nigeria, the UK and Malaysia.
**2024–2025 — pursues EU MiCA authorization and tightens local compliance** amid emerging-market regulatory shifts (notably in Nigeria).

## Ownership & operator
**Operating entity**: **Luno Pte Ltd** (Singapore-incorporated, with major operations in South Africa).
**Major shareholders**: **Digital Currency Group (DCG)** as parent.
**Regulators**: **South Africa's FSCA**, **Nigeria's SEC**, **UK FCA** registration, **Malaysia's SC**, and **EU MiCA** framework.

## Technical integration
Mobile and web apps with a trading API. Supports BTC, ETH and selected tokens via crypto deposit addresses, with local fiat funding/withdrawal (e.g. ZAR, NGN, GBP, MYR) via bank transfer and local rails, plus simple savings/earn products.

## Implementations & partners
**Major competitors**: [Binance](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/binance) (global exchange, strong in Africa) + [Coinbase](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/coinbase) (global exchange) + [Bitso](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bitso) (emerging-markets exchange).

## Status
**Active, a leading emerging-markets crypto exchange owned by Digital Currency Group** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.luno.com/ "Luno — official"
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luno_(company) "Luno — Wikipedia"
[za-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ZA

- [1] [Luno — official][1]
- [2] [Luno — Wikipedia][2]
- <sup>[South Africa report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ZA)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/ZA-south-africa.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [luno.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/luno). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.