South Africa’s leading crypto exchange, VALR, has launched the Garrington Capital USD Private Credit Token (USDPC), marking a significant stride in bridging the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset economy.
This token, now available to VALR’s over 1.4 million global users, represents a share in a portfolio of asset-backed, senior-secured private loans across North America managed by Garrington Capital, with targeted annual returns of 8–10%.
Issued by RainFin, USDPC offers stablecoin holders and institutions a low-volatility, yield-bearing alternative, providing a compelling opportunity for portfolio diversification amid growing demand for tokenised real-world assets.
As the only crypto platform in Africa offering such a product, VALR’s move not only enhances investor access to institutional-grade credit strategies but also signals a broader shift in the evolution of digital finance across emerging markets.
Expanding Access to Elite Finance
VALR, founded in 2018 and regulated by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), provides the broadest selection of cryptocurrencies in Africa, supporting over 60 digital assets.
It also boasts a client base of more than 1,400 institutional investors and over 1.4 million individual traders globally.
With regulatory footprints in Europe and provisional approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), VALR is positioning itself as a global player in compliant digital asset services.
“This product underscores VALR’s commitment to providing more people around the world with access to financial products that have traditionally been highly exclusive,” said VALR CEO and co-founder Farzam Ehsani.
Why USDPC Stands Out
USDPC, (USD Private Credit) is a tokenised form of private credit investment, a market traditionally accessible only to high-net-worth individuals or large institutions.
It taps into a diversified loan strategy that finances North American businesses, backed by real assets and senior secured terms.
This structured exposure offers a risk-adjusted yield, uncorrelated to volatile crypto or public stock markets.
For investors using stablecoins (cryptocurrencies pegged to the U.S. dollar), the product provides a hedge against local currency devaluation and volatile interest rate environments, especially in emerging economies.
A $50M Bet on Crypto’s Future
VALR’s bold innovation follows its successful $50 million Series B raise in 2022, led by notable global investors, underscoring growing confidence in the platform’s vision.
The new token product is part of a broader strategic shift as global crypto exchanges increasingly move toward the tokenisation of real-world assets, a market that, according to Boston Consulting Group, could reach $16 trillion by 2030.
“We are thrilled to bring USDPC to our clients, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem,” Ehsani added.
Talking Points
The launch of the USD Private Credit Token (USDPC) by VALR represents a strategically significant development not just for Africa’s crypto landscape, but for the broader global shift toward asset tokenisation and decentralized finance.
By giving retail and institutional investors direct access to yield-generating, asset-backed private credit via a regulated platform, VALR is lowering long-standing barriers to exclusive financial instruments that were traditionally the preserve of hedge funds, family offices, and institutional giants.
This democratization of private credit through blockchain infrastructure is particularly timely given the growing demand for alternative, stable-yield investments in a post-pandemic era marked by inflation and volatile equity markets.
However, the move also invites critical reflection on regulatory maturity and investor education in emerging markets.
While VALR is licensed by South Africa’s FSCA and approved in other global hubs, the complexity of tokenised credit products may outpace local regulatory frameworks and investor understanding.
The potential for misaligned risk perception or misuse remains unless accompanied by robust compliance, transparency, and financial literacy initiatives.
Still, VALR’s initiative is a bold step in reimagining African financial inclusion through innovation, positioning the continent not as a passive user of global fintech trends, but as a contributor and leader in shaping them.
