ZAR Universal (ZARU) has officially launched today as a new institutional-grade stablecoin pegged to the value of the South African Rand (ZAR).
Designed to modernise South Africa’s payment and financial infrastructure, ZARU aims to give both retail and institutional users the ability to transact at the speed of the internet, while strengthening and supporting the local financial system.
Historically, payments, cross-border trade, and remittances involving the Rand have been slowed down by traditional banking limitations such as restricted operating hours, high transaction fees, and delays in settlement. ZARU addresses these long-standing inefficiencies by operating on a blockchain network, offering a trusted, fully Rand-backed digital currency that enables instant, 24/7 settlement. This innovation allows South African markets to connect more seamlessly with the global digital economy, opening up new opportunities for trade, investment, and financial participation.
Each ZARU digital coin issued is fully backed by high-quality liquid assets denominated in Rand, including cash, bank deposits, and South African government bonds. These reserves are independently audited on a monthly basis by Moore Johannesburg, ensuring transparency, accountability, and stability for market participants. By maintaining the underlying Rand-denominated assets within the South African financial system, ZARU is also expected to increase global demand for Rand-based assets, reinforcing the currency’s role in the evolving digital financial landscape. The reserves are managed by Sanlam Specialised Asset Management (Pty) Ltd, under a structured asset-liability management agreement to ensure proper oversight and risk management.
Commenting on the launch, Jacques Le Roux, CEO of Sanlam Financial Markets, said the company is excited to support the initiative through Sanlam Specialised Asset Management. He highlighted the company’s potential to contribute significantly to financial inclusion by bridging traditional financial markets with blockchain technology. “We’re connecting traditional financial markets to the world of blockchain to enable cheaper, faster payments,” he said.
ZARU is launching through a strategic collaboration between several of South Africa’s most reputable and forward-thinking financial institutions, including Luno, Sanlam, EasyEquities, and Lesaka. Together, these organisations are combining trusted financial infrastructure with blockchain innovation to enable real-world utility and drive meaningful adoption of a Rand-backed digital asset.
James Lanigan, CEO of Luno, said the launch represents an important milestone for South Africa’s digital economy. “ZARU is designed to make everyday payments and money transfers faster and cheaper, while fully supported by secure reserves that help strengthen the local financial system,” he said.
Charles Savage, CEO of EasyEquities, emphasised the stablecoin’s role in making financial access easier and more affordable. “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,” he said.
Ali Mazanderani, Executive Chairman of Lesaka, added that the company is pleased to support the evolution of South Africa’s payments infrastructure through the partnership. He believes ZARU is well positioned to accelerate the speed and reduce the cost of Rand payments, delivering meaningful benefits to consumers, businesses, and society as a whole.
From today, the company is available exclusively to qualified institutional investors through the Luno and EasyEquities trading desks. At this stage, the stablecoin is not yet available to retail investors. However, both platforms intend to expand access to their broader user bases through a phased rollout in the near future. More information about ZARU is available at zaru.network, where institutional participants can register their interest.
