Luno Referral Code 2026: Buy Bitcoin and Ethereum Simply

Luno offers a narrower catalogue than its competitors but covers the main coins: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), USD Coin (USDC) and a few others. This limited choice is deliberate — Luno prefers few but well-selected coins. For traders seeking hundreds of altcoins, Binance or KuCoin are better suited.

Luno's fee structure: instant buy/sell (Luno wallet): up to 1-1.5% spread depending on the amount. Trading via the Luno exchange (order book): maker fee 0%, taker fee 0.1% — much cheaper. Fiat deposit/withdrawal: varies by country and method (SEPA transfer often free in Europe). Crypto network fees: standard blockchain fees. To minimise costs, use the Luno exchange rather than instant buy.

Luno offers crypto savings features: Luno Savings — deposit your crypto and earn interest. Rates vary by asset and period. This is similar to the "earn" products of other exchanges. Warning: crypto-interest programmes carry risks (platform, counterparty) that traditional on-chain staking does not. After the 2022 collapse of Celsius and BlockFi, caution is warranted on these products.

Luno applies solid security standards: 95% of funds in cold storage (offline), mandatory 2FA (Google Authenticator or SMS) and withdrawal address whitelisting. Luno is compliant with KYC/AML regulations in its markets and registered with local regulators in Europe. DCG (Digital Currency Group) ownership imposes high standards. As with any exchange, hack risk is never zero — prefer a hardware wallet for significant amounts. Deposits are by SEPA transfer.

A Luno specificity: its strong footprint in African markets. In South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia, Luno is often the first accessible crypto platform. This makes Luno relevant for money transfers between Europe and Africa via Bitcoin — an alternative to traditional remittance services (Western Union, Remitly) for fast, cheaper transfers.

The Luno mobile app is one of its strengths: a clean, clear interface, rated 4.5/5 on the stores, available on iOS and Android. It lets you buy, sell, send and receive crypto, and view your positions and history — one of the best crypto apps for beginners. Since its 2020 acquisition by DCG (Digital Currency Group), Luno has the backing of the largest institutional player in crypto. DCG also owns Grayscale (the largest crypto fund manager), Genesis Trading and CoinDesk. This ownership reassures on the platform's longevity but also highlights the interconnection of crypto players — the 2023 Genesis bankruptcy did not affect Luno directly.

For European beginners: Luno — a simpler interface, a limited catalogue, a strong African presence, decent fees on the exchange. Coinbase — greater brand recognition in Europe/US, more coins, Coinbase Advanced for traders. Verdict: to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum simply, Luno and Coinbase are comparable. Coinbase has more coins and is better known; Luno is especially useful if you have ties to Africa.

Our verdict: Luno is a reliable, simple crypto platform, ideal for beginners who want to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum without complexity. Strengths: a simple interface, solid security, an excellent mobile app, DCG backing. Weaknesses: a limited catalogue (few altcoins), high instant-buy fees (use the exchange). Ideal for beginners wanting to buy BTC/ETH simply and users with Africa-Europe connections.