FNB launches crypto trading with VALR partnership

First National Bank has launched a cryptocurrency trading service on its existing investment platform, partnering with South African provider VALR to give customers access to five digital assets. Trades start at R10 and are available through the bank’s Share Saver, Share Builder, Share Investor and Share Zero products. The service supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and USDT, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. Customers can buy and sell the assets through FNB’s share-trading platform, with trading available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to details released by the bank. FNB said customers will fund purchases from their FNB accounts. Assets bought through the service remain within the bank’s ecosystem and cannot be transferred out to external wallets or other platforms. Some reports also describe restrictions on transferring assets into the service, but the full terms governing inbound transfers were not detailed. The bank has presented the arrangement as a way to offer crypto exposure within its existing investment services while maintaining controls over security and compliance.