The partners describe ZARU as an institutional-grade digital currency designed to modernize payments and financial infrastructure. By enabling instant, 24/7 settlement, ZARU aims to eliminate the delays and costs tied to traditional banking hours, cross-border trade, and remittances.
“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,” the companies said.
For his part, Charles Savage, CEO of Easyequities, said:
“Our mission has always been to make investing easy and accessible. ZARU gives South Africans a trusted, low-cost way to participate in the future of finance while keeping the rand at the center.”
Initially, ZARU will be available only to qualified institutional investors via Luno and Easyequities trading desks. Retail access is planned in a phased rollout, with both platforms intending to extend availability to their broader user bases in the near future.
FAQ What is ZARU? ZARU is a blockchain-based stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand. Who launched ZARU? It was developed by Luno, Sanlam Specialised Asset Management, Easyequities, and Lesaka in South Africa. How is ZARU backed? Each token is fully supported by Rand-denominated assets like cash, deposits, and government bonds, audited monthly in Johannesburg. Who can access ZARU now? Currently only institutional investors via Luno and Easyequities, with retail rollout planned in South Africa soon.
