For South African investors, earning a meaningful return in US Dollars has traditionally meant accepting a stark trade-off: the stomach-churning volatility of the stock market or the stagnation of low-yield cash savings.
The “middle ground” — an investment offering steady, attractive yields without the daily noise of public markets — has been largely inaccessible to the individual investor.
Private credit fills this gap.
You may not be familiar with Private Credit (also called non-bank lending), but it has become a cornerstone of institutional investment portfolios globally.
Pension funds, hedge funds, banks, and insurance companies have shifted billions into private credit.
The global market has expanded from $1 trillion in 2020 to an estimated $1.9 trillion today, with projections to reach nearly $3 trillion by 2028.
This growth has been driven by two factors:
Until now, this asset class was exclusive to large institutions and the ultra-wealthy, often requiring millions of rands to invest.
ALFI was launched to change this.
Launched in November 2024, ALFI — which stands for Altify Legal Finance Investment — represents South Africa’s first tokenised private credit offering.
It is issued and listed on Altify, a Cape Town-based alternative investment platform licensed by the FSCA (FSP 53289) and backed by the listed investment firm Sabvest.
Since its launch over a year ago, ALFI has maintained a flawless track record, consistently delivering a fixed 11.00% annual return.
This interest is denominated in USDT (the world’s largest USD-backed stablecoin) and is paid out to investors every quarter.
ALFI is classified as a tokenised security or Real-World Asset (RWA).
By using blockchain technology to tokenise this investment, Altify transforms a complex institutional asset into something accessible to everyone.
This process legally represents the underlying portfolio of loans as a security token on a blockchain, unlocking benefits that traditional funds cannot match:
Each ALFI token is priced at $1.00 and is backed 1:1 by senior-secured loans issued by Fenchurch Legal, a UK-based specialist in litigation finance.
The full technical details are available on ALFI’s web page.
Fenchurch Legal has been operating since 2018. They have lent over $59M across 15,000 loans. To date, they have recorded zero defaults.
All investments carry risk. With ALFI, the specific risk is default — the chance that Fenchurch Legal cannot repay the capital. Fenchurch Legal manages this downside by:
This doesn’t eliminate risk, but it significantly reduces it. Altify also uses a 1-to-5 risk rating system to help you match your investments to your risk tolerance.
Sean Sanders, CEO of Altify, adds: “We’ve lowered the minimum investment so that more people can access this lucrative opportunity. We encourage investors to start small and get comfortable as ALFI is best suited for long-term investors.
This is not a volatile tech stock or a speculative cryptocurrency. It is a stable, real-world investment product brought on-chain.
The industry giants are already validating this model. BlackRock has successfully launched its tokenised money market fund, BUIDL, while Apollo Global Management offers tokenised private credit products. However, Apollo’s offering is restricted to accredited investors with significant capital.
Altify applies the same institutional logic — real assets, tokenised for efficiency — but removes the high barrier to entry. Whether for a seasoned investor or a beginner, ALFI offers solid USD returns with managed risk and flexible access.
Purchase ALFI tokens using USDT (1 ALFI = 1 USDT). ZAR can be deposited to buy USDT, or you can deposit USDT directly with Altify.
3. Earn
ALFI pays interest quarterly and has an investment duration of 24 months. Investors can request to redeem their ALFI tokens with 14 days’ notice*. However this is subject to early redemption fees and market liquidity.
Click here to visit Altify for additional details.
Investment Amount: Since this is a tokenised investment, a minimum of 100.00 USDT is required. This roughly equates to R1,600 at the time of writing.
* Early Redemption Notice: You can apply to redeem your ALFI tokens before the maturity date with 14 days’ notice. However, redemptions are subject to market conditions and cannot be guaranteed. If your request is approved, a 5% early redemption fee will apply to the total invested amount, including unallocated accrued interest.
Altify SA Capital (Pty) Ltd (FSP 52727) and Altify SA DAS (Pty) Ltd (FSP 53289) are both authorised financial services providers (FSPs).
This article is provided solely for informational purposes. The opinions expressed herein do not constitute investment advice or recommendations, nor should they be regarded as such. This document does not represent an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, any of the investments mentioned.
Altify operates as a brokerage service facilitating the reception and transmission of crypto asset orders, without providing investment advice or personalised recommendations. While Altify advocates for the broader accessibility of cryptocurrencies, they may not be suitable for every investor.
It is important to consider your investment goals, experience level, and seek independent financial advice where necessary. Altify strongly recommends conducting comprehensive research before investing in cryptocurrencies.
Investors are solely responsible for their own investment decisions. Considering the high volatility associated with cryptocurrencies, please evaluate your financial circumstances carefully before engaging in transactions. Cryptocurrencies carry a high risk, with potential for both significant gains and losses. Investing in cryptocurrencies may lead to a total loss of capital.
Past performance is not indicative of future results, and returns cannot be guaranteed as cryptocurrency values fluctuate based on market supply and demand. Do not invest more than you can afford to lose and seek professional guidance if you are unsure about the suitability of a cryptocurrency investment for your specific situation.
Please refer to the General Risk Disclosures and Private Credit Risk Disclosures on Altify’s website for more information. Investments should only be undertaken by individuals who fully understand these risks.
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