Media Coverage
Leading South African Financial Institutions Launch New Digital Currency
03 Feb 2026
By ZARU
'ZARU' to Bring the South African Rand to the Global Internet Economy
Luno, EasyEquities and Lesaka are launching a Rand-backed stablecoin called ZAR Universal (ZARU)
For every ZARU issued, a Rand or government bond equivalent or bank deposit will be stored with Standard Bank and managed by Sanlam Specialist Asset Manager as the appointed asset liability manager with reserves audited by Moore Johannesburg on a monthly basis
Because stablecoins operate on a blockchain, they allow for 24/7 global trade and instant payment
While ZARU may be traded abroad, the underlying Rand will remain in a South African bank account, driving demand for local currency
Cape Town - 3 February 2026
Today marks the launch of ZAR Universal (ZARU), a new institutional-grade stablecoin pegged to the value of the South African Rand (ZAR). ZARU is designed to modernize payment and financial infrastructure, enabling both retail and institutional users to transact at the speed of the internet while bolstering the local financial system.
Historically, payments, cross-border trade and remittances involving the Rand have been slowed by traditional banking hours and fees. ZARU solves this by operating on a blockchain, providing a trusted, fully Rand-backed digital currency that enables instant, 24/7 settlement and connects South African markets directly to the global digital economy.
Every ZARU digital coin issued is fully backed by Rand reserves held at Standard Bank - Africa’s largest bank - in the form of cash, bank deposits, and South African government bond equivalents. The reserves are independently audited monthly by Moore Johannesburg, ensuring transparency and stability. Furthermore, by keeping the underlying Rand reserves in a South African bank, the stablecoin drives demand for Rand-denominated assets globally. The reserves are managed in accordance with an asset liability management agreement with Sanlam Specialist Asset Manager.
Jacques Le Roux, CEO of Sanlam Financial Markets said, "Sanlam Specialist Asset Manager is excited to provide asset liability management services to enable support for this initiative given its potential to significantly contribute to financial inclusion. We're connecting traditional financial markets to the world of blockchain to enable cheaper, faster payments."
ZARU is launching through a collaboration between some of South Africa’s most reputable and forward-thinking financial institutions, including Luno, EasyEquities, and Lesaka, combining trusted financial infrastructure with blockchain innovation to enable real-world utility and drive meaningful adoption of a Rand-backed digital asset.
“We are delighted to collaborate with trusted institutions to launch a Rand-backed stablecoin with meaningful real-world applications,” said James Lanigan, CEO of Luno. “ZARU is a crucial milestone for South Africa’s digital economy. It’s designed to make everyday payments and money transfers faster and cheaper, while fully supported by secure reserves that help strengthen the local financial system.”
“Our mission has always been to make investing easy and accessible,” said Charles Savage, CEO of EasyEquities. “We’re providing South Africans with a fast, trusted, and low-cost way to seamlessly participate in the future of finance while keeping the Rand at the center of it.”
Ali Mazanderani, Executive Chairman of Lesaka said, “We are delighted to support the evolution of South Africa’s payments infrastructure through this partnership. We believe ZARU is exceptionally well positioned to accelerate the speed and reduce the cost of rand payments, benefitting consumers, businesses and society as a whole.”
From today, ZARU is available exclusively to qualified institutional investors via the Luno and EasyEquities trading desks. At this stage, ZARU is not available to retail investors. Both platforms intend to make ZARU accessible to their broader user bases in a phased rollout in the near future. More information about ZARU is available at zaru.network, where institutional participants can register their interest.