Discovery Bank integrates crypto trading into its digital banking platform

Partnership with crypto platform Luno enables customers to trade digital assets directly within the bank’s mobile app, marking a first for the African banking sector.

Discovery Bank has announced a strategic partnership with global crypto asset platform Luno to integrate digital asset trading into its mobile banking application, becoming the first bank in Africa to offer this capability natively within a traditional banking environment.

Scheduled to launch in December 2025, the initiative will allow Discovery Bank customers to buy, hold, sell, and monitor cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum in real time, without leaving the bank’s app. The service will support more than 50 digital assets and will also be connected to the bank’s Vitality Money rewards program, reinforcing cryptocurrency’s role as an increasingly mainstream financial instrument.

The integration enables clients to securely link their Discovery Bank and Luno accounts, combining regulated banking infrastructure with a dedicated crypto trading platform. The move reflects a broader shift among financial institutions toward incorporating blockchain-based assets within established, compliant frameworks.

For Luno, the agreement represents its first large-scale institutional partnership, positioning the collaboration as a reference model for banks seeking to introduce crypto assets responsibly. Both companies operate under South Africa’s regulatory environment, prioritizing consumer protection, compliance, and long-term sustainability over rapid expansion.

Discovery Bank brings significant scale to the partnership, with over one million customer accounts and more than ten million monthly app logins, reinforcing the growing convergence between digital banking and crypto-enabled financial services.