This page was created by the team at Teruza - a South African software company with years of experience building tools for professional crypto arbitrage traders. We've spent years analyzing the gap between international and South African crypto exchanges. But until now, that insight stayed behind closed doors. We built this site to share live and historical arbitrage data with the public, helping anyone interested in South Africa's unique arbitrage story understand how the gap has evolved over time.

Arbitrage gaps exist when there's a price difference for the same asset—in this case, Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies—between two markets. In South Africa, several factors contribute to this gap: a) Currency Controls: Moving money in and out of South Africa involves strict regulations and limits, which creates friction. b) Supply and Demand: During periods of high local demand (like when Bitcoin is trending), South African exchange prices often spike. c) Market Isolation: South African exchanges operate somewhat independently from larger international exchanges, leading to price lags. The combination of these factors creates moments where Bitcoin trades at a higher price locally than it does internationally.

While the days of large, double-digit arbitrage gaps (common between 2016 and 2021) have mostly passed, the opportunity hasn't disappeared entirely. The market has become more competitive, with smaller and shorter-lived gaps—often below 1%—now being the norm. Today, success in crypto arbitrage typically requires speed, automation, and deep market insight. That's why most individuals choose to work with professional arbitrage service providers who specialize in identifying and executing these trades efficiently. Fortunately, there are several reputable companies in South Africa offering structured arbitrage solutions—making it possible to participate in the opportunity without needing to manage the complexities yourself.

Technically yes—but it's very difficult today. In the early days, traders could manually buy on international exchanges (like Binance) and sell on South African ones (like Luno or VALR) with little more than a spreadsheet and some patience. Today, successful arbitrage trading usually requires: a) Automated tools capable of executing trades within seconds. b) Fast and reliable access to international and local exchanges. c) Detailed knowledge of fees, forex rates, and transfer times. For most individuals, the overhead and complexity now outweigh the potential rewards.

Crypto arbitrage in South Africa comes with several significant risks: a) Timing Risk: Delays in moving funds or crypto can cause the gap to close before your trade completes. b) Forex Risk: Fluctuations in the USD/ZAR exchange rate can erode or even eliminate your profit. c) Transfer Fees: Both banking and crypto network fees can be high, especially for smaller trade sizes. d) Regulatory Risk: South Africa has strict rules on cross-border money flows, and failing to comply can have serious consequences. e) Market Volatility: Sudden Bitcoin price swings can turn a profitable trade into a loss within minutes. For these reasons, arbitrage is now mostly left to experienced, well-funded, and fully automated traders.