Costs, licensing, consumer protection Privacy, self-custody, censorship resistance

Luno

Luno

3.8/5 1.3/5 · Data verified on

Luno is an exchange with over 15 million users, dual FSCA and BNM licensing, and access to xStocks, tokenized US equities. Its strength is regulated coverage of emerging markets, but its fees are not competitive against global CEXs and exposure to volatile local currencies remains a risk factor.

46
Transparency: Low
46/100 · see methodology
46
Data exposure: Low
46/100 · lower is better for sovereignty · methodology

Data & conditions

Maker / Taker fee 0.1% / 0.1%
Markets Spot
Max leverage
Supported assets 35+
Trading pairs 25+
24h volume $2.16M
Fiat on-ramp Yes
Deposit methods bank_transfer, card, instant_eft
Geo restrictions US
Staking / Earn Savings Wallet (ETH, ADA, SOL, DOT, ATOM, NEAR)
Fund custody Custodial (platform holds funds)
KYC Full
Supported countries AFRICA, APAC · 10+ countries
Regulator FSCA
OAM Italy registration No
Segment B2C
MiCA / License status FSP Sud Africa + FCA UK FSCA (SA); BNM (Malaysia)

Strengths

  • 15M+ users; xStocks (shares USA tokenized); FSCA + BNM dual license.
  • No notable sovereignty advantage documented.

Weaknesses

  • Fee not competitive vs CEX globali; emerging focus.
  • Custodial: the platform holds your funds and can freeze or lose them.
  • Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
  • Subject to regulation (FSCA (SA); BNM (Malaysia)): reporting to authorities and freezes on order.
  • Geographic restrictions (US).

Verdict

B D ★ 3.8/5 ★ 1.3/5

Luno is among the strongest in the category on protection: over 15 million users, dual FSCA and BNM licensing, competitive 0.1% fees and access to tokenized US equities via xStocks justify its place at the top of its tier. The score doesn't climb higher because of its focus on emerging markets and exposure to volatile local currencies, which remain a risk factor for users operating in those regions.

Despite low fees and regulatory solidity, Luno remains custodial with full KYC: the user does not control the keys and identity is fully verified. The tokenized equities in xStocks are a centralized, regulated asset, not an example of trustless finance. Through this lens the broad emerging-market coverage does not offset the complete absence of self-custody and privacy.

Privacy & anonymity 30% 0.8
Fund control 20% 0.0
Censorship resistance 20% 2.3
Costs 10% 4.0

Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.

"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.

FAQ

What are Luno's fees?

On Luno, spot fees are maker 0.1% / taker 0.1%. They drop with monthly volume and VIP tier.

Is Luno regulated in Europe?

Regulatory status of Luno: FSCA (SA); BNM (Malaysia). Licence: FSP Sud Africa + FCA UK (ZA).

Does Luno publish Proof of Reserves?

Proof of Reserves publication is not documented for Luno. No third-party reserve audit is documented. Reserve transparency is a critical factor after the FTX collapse.

Can I send transfers to third-party IBANs from Luno?

No, Luno is an exchange and does not allow transfers to third-party IBANs: fiat withdrawals return to a bank account in your own name.

Does Luno support derivatives and futures?

Luno does not offer derivatives: it focuses on spot trading.

Sources

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Update history

✓ Terms unchanged since Jun 1, 2026

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