Who can use this feature?
Luno Pay is available to customers verified in South Africa.
With Luno Pay, you can use your crypto wallet to purchase groceries at any Pick n Pay store or scan the QR code to pay for goods and services anywhere Zapper payments are available. You can also use Luno Pay at any online merchant supporting Stitch’s ‘Pay with Crypto’ option.
How to make your payment
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Check to see if there’s a Zapper QR code to scan. At Pick n Pay, ask the cashier for the Contactless QR payment option or select it yourself on the point-of-sale device
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On the Luno app, open your Home screen and select More
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Choose Scan
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Scan the QR code
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Review or enter the amount to be paid. Depending on the merchant, you may be asked to specify the payment amount or add an optional tip or a custom reference
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Select the crypto wallet you’d like to pay from (if you have more than one with sufficient balance)
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Enter your Luno PIN
What can I buy with crypto in South Africa?
With Luno Pay, you can use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies at over 31,000 restaurants, shops, garages, e-commerce stores, and other merchants throughout South Africa.
Buy groceries at Pick n Pay or Spar, pay for your meal at KFC or Steers, grab a coffee from Mugg & Bean or Seattle, or pay for parking at your nearest shopping centre.
Tip
Look for the Zapper QR code on your bill or at check-out. You'll find an extensive list of merchants that support Zapper payments here.
Frequently asked questions
Most of the cryptocurrencies available on Luno can be used with Luno Pay. You'll see which options are available when you make a payment. This will vary depending on which of your crypto wallets have a sufficient balance to pay, as well as market conditions for each cryptocurrency.
Making a payment with Luno Pay will take around the same amount of time it would take to pay with a credit card. Don’t worry, you won’t need to stand around waiting for blockchain confirmations.
No, you’ll be able to scan the QR code and make your payment successfully without having to enable crypto sends first.
Luno currently doesn’t charge any service fee for these payments.
The maximum transaction amount is R100,000. The maximum transaction amount for Pick n Pay payments is R9,999.99.
The store would treat it as if you paid for the item in cash. In other words, you’d get the rand value back, not the crypto amount you paid. Their standard returns policy would also still be applicable here.
At the time of writing, SARS regards spending crypto for goods or services as a barter transaction, so the normal barter transaction rules would apply. Capital Gains Tax or Income Tax may apply, depending on your specific facts and circumstances. Please consult a tax professional if you need advice on this.
Tip
You can read more on the SARS Crypto Assets & Tax page.