Luno is one of the most widely used cryptocurrency exchanges in Southeast Asia and Africa, known for its clean, beginner-friendly interface and strong regulatory track record. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in London, Luno operates across 40+ countries with over 10 million users — making it one of the most globally distributed retail crypto platforms. In Malaysia, Luno holds a Capital Markets Services licence from the Securities Commission (SC), making it one of the few fully regulated crypto exchanges in the country.
About Luno
Luno was founded in 2013 by Marcus Swanepoel and Timothy Stranex. The company was originally based in South Africa before establishing its global headquarters in London. Luno gained early traction by focusing on markets traditionally underserved by global crypto exchanges — particularly South Africa, Nigeria, and later Malaysia and Indonesia. In 2020, Digital Currency Group (DCG) acquired a majority stake in Luno, giving it significant institutional backing. Luno is notable for deliberately keeping its token listing small and focused on quality over quantity — offering only 8 major cryptocurrencies to avoid speculative or low-quality assets.
Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| HQ | London, UK |
| Parent | Digital Currency Group (DCG) |
| Malaysia Licence | SC Capital Markets Services Licence |
| Users | 10 million+ |
| Countries | 40+ |
| Listed Coins | 8 (BTC, ETH, XRP, BCH, LTC, LINK, UNI, USDC) |
| Fiat | MYR, ZAR, NGN, EUR, GBP, IDR, UGX, ZMW |
| Maker Fee | 0% |
| Taker Fee | 0.1–1.0% (volume tiered) |
Key Features
SC Malaysia Licensed
Luno holds a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence from Malaysia's Securities Commission — one of only a handful of exchanges to achieve full SC licensing for digital asset trading. This licence means Malaysian users trade with the same regulatory protections afforded to traditional securities investors.
Beginner-Focused Design
Luno's interface is among the cleanest in the industry. The Instant Buy feature lets users purchase crypto in seconds with a single tap, without needing to understand order books. The Luno app consistently ranks among the top-rated financial apps in Malaysia and South Africa's App Store charts.
Luno Earn
Luno offers a savings product (Luno Earn) where users can earn interest on BTC, ETH, and USDC holdings. Rates vary by market conditions and currency, giving users a passive income option without the complexity of DeFi.
MYR Local Bank Transfer
Malaysian users can deposit and withdraw MYR directly through local bank transfers (FPX/IBG), with no deposit fees. This seamless fiat integration is critical for Malaysian retail adoption.
Fee Structure
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Maker fee | 0% |
| Taker fee | 0.1–1.0% (volume tiered) |
| Instant Buy spread | ~1.5–2% |
| MYR deposit | Free (FPX) |
| Crypto withdrawal | Network fee only |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- SC Malaysia licensed — full regulatory protection
- 10M+ users — proven global scale
- 0% maker fee on exchange
- Free MYR deposits via FPX
- Beginner-friendly app design
- DCG institutional backing
Cons
- Only 8 coins — very limited selection
- No futures or derivatives
- Instant Buy spread can be expensive
- No advanced charting tools
- Limited staking options
Summary
Luno is the ideal entry point for Malaysian first-time crypto investors who want a fully regulated, simple, and trusted platform. Its SC Malaysia licence, free MYR deposits, and clean app design remove the barriers that keep most beginners from entering the market. The trade-off is a very limited coin selection and lack of advanced features — making Luno best suited as an on-ramp, with users graduating to broader platforms as their knowledge grows.