With Luno Pay, you can use crypto – including the Rand-backed stablecoin ZARU – to pay for goods and services anywhere Luno Pay is available in South Africa.
Tip
Discover how Luno Pay gives you crypto back on your purchases.
How to make your payment
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Check to see if there’s a QR code to scan. You may need to ask your cashier for the Contactless QR payment option or select it yourself on the point-of-sale device
Note
See some of the most popular merchants where you can use Luno Pay.
- On the Luno app, select Pay from the bottom navigation menu or Luno Pay from your Account Hub menu (accessible via your initials at the top of the screen)
- Press the Scan to pay button
- Scan the QR code
- 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
- Select the crypto wallet you’d like to pay from (if you have more than one with sufficient balance)
- Enter your Luno PIN and confirm the purchase
Frequently asked questions
Where can I use Luno Pay?
Luno Pay is accepted nationwide in South Africa, in-store and online, at grocery outlets and other merchants via partners like Zapper and Scan to Pay.
Tip
Find out more about the most popular merchants where our customers are using Luno Pay.
Which cryptocurrencies can I pay with?
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.
Can I pay with rands?
If you have enough funds in your ZAR wallet, Luno Pay will automatically convert your rands to the stablecoin ZARU in order to complete your purchase. Simply choose your ZARU wallet as the payment method at checkout.
While you aren't paying directly with rands, the 1:1 swap to ZARU is seamless, instant and free of charge.
How long do these payments take?
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.
Do I need to enable crypto sends first?
No, you’ll be able to scan the QR code and make your payment successfully without having to enable crypto sends first.
Are there any fees or limits?
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.
What happens if I need to return an item or get a refund?
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.
What are the tax implications when I pay for goods with crypto?
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.
Tell me more about the crypto-back reward programme
From 1 October, every time you pay with Luno Pay at any supported merchant, whether in-store or online, you’ll earn up to 10% back in crypto rewards
- If you use your USDT wallet to pay, you’ll receive 10% back
- If you choose to pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum or any other supported crypto, you’ll get 5% back
Tip
Learn more about how you can get crypto back when using Luno Pay.