VALR, Africa’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, proudly concluded its sponsorship of Istanbul Blockchain Week, held on June 26-27, 2025, in Istanbul, Türkiye. The event provided a platform for VALR’s leadership to share their vision for a transformed global financial system, with a keynote address by Co-founder and CEO Farzam Ehsani and a panel discussion featuring Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Badi Sudhakaran.
In his keynote, Ehsani delivered a compelling assessment of the state of global finance, emphasizing the unraveling of outdated systems and the emergence of a new world order grounded in the oneness of humanity. Quoting the prophetic words of Bahá’u’lláh written in the heart of the Ottoman Empire in the late 1860s, Ehsani noted, “The world is in travail, and its agitation waxeth day by day…Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead.” He connected this vision to the evolution of money, advocating for a global currency to replace fragmented, nationalism-driven systems.
Citing a 1999 statement from the Bahá’í International Community, written a decade before Bitcoin’s launch, Ehsani highlighted how it would be difficult to “exaggerate the psychological and social impact of the anticipated replacement of the jumble of existing monetary systems…by a single world currency operating largely through electronic impulses.” His speech underscored the crypto industry’s purpose: to empower people, promote global justice, and build a financial system that reflects humanity’s fundamental oneness.
Badi Sudhakaran, VALR’s Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, furthered this narrative in a distinguished panel on the evolution of crypto exchanges. He emphasized how exchanges can drive industry progress by aligning with principles of fairness and service to humanity, reinforcing VALR’s commitment to advancing the crypto ecosystem with purpose.
Ben Caselin, VALR’s Chief Marketing Officer, commented: “Partnering with Istanbul Blockchain Week allowed us to explore this significant market as we continue to expand globally. More importantly, it was an opportunity to contribute to industry discourse, rooted in VALR’s values-driven mission to serve humanity. The positive reception to our vision and products is a source of optimism, reinforcing the idea that the success of our industry ultimately depends on our ability — in word and deed- to commit to higher principles and purpose.”
Founded in 2018, VALR has emerged as a global leader in the crypto space, serving over 1.4 million users and 1,300 corporate and institutional clients worldwide. Headquartered in Johannesburg, VALR offers a comprehensive suite of products, including Spot Trading, Spot Margin, Futures, Staking, Lending, an API for high-frequency traders, Subaccounts with governance features, OTC Trading, Simple Buy/Sell, and VALR Pay. Licensed by South Africa’s FSCA, with regulatory approvals in Europe and initial approval from Dubai’s VARA, VALR has seen remarkable growth over the past two years, fueled by $55 million in equity funding from investors like Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, GSR, and F-Prime, affiliated with Fidelity Investments.
VALR is Africa’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trade volume, offering a comprehensive suite of crypto products and services to over 1.4 million users globally. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Johannesburg, VALR is licensed by the FSCA in South Africa, with regulatory approvals in Europe and initial approval from Dubai’s VARA. Backed by leading investors, VALR is committed to building a financial system that empowers people and reflects the oneness of humanity.
