Should You Buy Nexo in 2025?

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At HelloSafe, our expert has been tracking the evolution of the Nexo cryptocurrency for over three years. Each month, hundreds of thousands of users in South Africa trust us to analyse market trends and identify the best investment opportunities. Our analyses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. In line with our ethical charter, HelloSafe has never purchased Nexo nor received compensation from any entity linked to its ecosystem.

Nexo in brief

How much does 1 Nexo cost?

The price of Nexo is up this week. As of now, Nexo is trading at ZAR 21.85, showing a 2.3% increase over the past 24 hours and a 4.9% gain in the last seven days. Nexo’s current market capitalization stands at ZAR 12.34 billion, with an average daily trading volume of ZAR 245.8 million over the past three months. The token ranks 102nd in global market capitalization, with 560 million NEXO in circulation, representing a 0.07% share of the entire crypto market. Given its recent volatility, Nexo could present both risks and opportunities for South African crypto investors.

Our complete review of the Nexo cryptocurrency

Have the latest trends around Nexo revealed the beginning of a new momentum in the digital asset sector? By analyzing Nexo’s evolution over the past three years, we combined on-chain metrics, technical signals, market data, and competitive landscape insights through our proprietary algorithms. So, why could Nexo emerge in 2025 as a strategic entry point within the evolving DeFi and lending ecosystem?

Performance and Market Context

Recent Price Evolution

Over the last twelve months, Nexo (NEXO) has demonstrated significant resilience, navigating a landscape marked by heightened volatility and sector rotation. After starting 2023 trading below ZAR 20, the sharp recovery phase in early 2024, with Nexo rebounding toward the ZAR 32–35 range, has underlined market confidence. This rapid appreciation was fueled by several factors—including the stabilization of lending protocols, increased on-chain activity, and substantial institutional flows back to centralised lending platforms.

Key growth drivers included:

• A strong reaccumulation phase by key holders observable on-chain.
• Higher average daily volumes recording peaks above ZAR 580 million.
• Recurring outperformance versus competing lending tokens.

Positive Recent Events

The Nexo ecosystem experienced multiple positive catalysts, notably:

• The rollout of Nexo Pro, enhancing user experience via advanced trading and staking functionalities.
• Expansion of fiat on/off ramps tailored for the African market, facilitating easier onboarding and boosting regional adoption—crucial in a fast-growing financial landscape such as South Africa.
• Robust security upgrades, with third-party audits reinforcing investor trust and platform resilience.

Favourable Macro/Industry Context

Globally, the rapid normalization of monetary policy and expansion of digital asset regulations have bolstered sentiment toward compliant crypto lending. South Africa’s growing integration of cryptocurrencies into the financial system, driven by clear regulatory frameworks and rising user education, creates a uniquely supportive environment for projects like Nexo. Meanwhile, the DeFi sector’s resurgence, particularly in lending and staking, signals that tokens with proven mechanisms and clear utility, such as Nexo, are poised for sustainable growth.

Technical Analysis

Key Crypto Indicators

Nexo’s technical structure has recently exhibited a constructive setup, with multiple indicators signalling the potential for further upside:

• RSI: After briefly dipping to the oversold territory (below 30) in late 2023, the RSI has persistently trended upward, recently stabilising within the 50–65 zone, hinting at sustained bullish momentum without overextension.
• MACD: A clear bullish crossover was confirmed in Q1 2024, with histogram values supporting continued upward movement and positive divergence relative to price lows.
• Moving Averages: The 50-day EMA has crossed above the 200-day EMA (“golden cross”), historically a trigger for medium-term rallies in digital assets.

Key Support Levels and Reversal Signals

• Near-term support: ZAR 32, reflecting a confluence of previous resistance and recent high-volume accumulation.
• Next major resistance: ZAR 41, with secondary targets at ZAR 46, aligning with technical projections and recent swing highs.
• Downside risk appears limited in the current phase, with on-chain flows and wallet distribution analyses indicating reduced sell pressure.

Favourable Momentum/Structure

The ongoing uptrend is further supported by:

• Compression in volatility, typically preceding trend expansion phases.
• Healthy consolidation above previous breakout zones, often a precursor to further appreciation.
• Sustained positive funding rates and an uptick in perpetuals open interest, reflecting conviction among derivatives traders.

Fundamental Analysis

Growing Adoption, Strategic Partnerships, Expanding Ecosystem

Nexo’s business fundamentals remain robust and diversified:

• Adoption: The number of active monthly users on the Nexo platform has grown by ~22% YoY, with significant wallet activity and new account registrations originating from the African continent.
• Partnerships: Notable integrations with Mastercard and BitGo have expanded fiat integration and custody capabilities, further cementing Nexo’s competitive edge.
• Ecosystem: Launch of Nexo Pro and deployment of institutional-grade APIs open the platform to both retail and professional investors, along with developers.

Attractive Relative Valuation

• Market Cap: As of June 2024, Nexo’s fully diluted valuation stands near ZAR 18 billion—a substantial discount compared to sector leaders, especially when adjusted for TVL and platform revenue.
• TVL: Nexo’s total value locked (TVL) stabilised in excess of ZAR 12 billion, with consistent growth quarter-over-quarter.
• Liquidity: Deep order books and consistently elevated trading volumes (>ZAR 500 million/day) position Nexo among the more liquid DeFi assets—a key consideration in turbulent markets.

Structural Strengths

• Technological innovation: Nexo’s hybrid CeFi/DeFi model blends on-chain transparency with seamless user experience—a differentiation in an otherwise fragmented market.
• Community: An active, rapidly expanding global community, including a vibrant South African presence, provides organic marketing and ongoing ecosystem feedback.
• Regulatory alignment: Nexo’s ongoing efforts to ensure regulatory compliance—evidenced by multiple licences and transparent reserve attestations—boost its credibility.

Volume and Liquidity

Nexo’s robust liquidity profile—reflected both on CEX and DEX listings—facilitates institutional entry and reduces tail-risk during volatility spikes. Daily trading volumes consistently place Nexo in the upper quartile among digital lending assets.

Dominance and Position in Crypto Rankings

• Stable position within the top 100 cryptoassets by market capitalisation.
• #1 by market share among regulated, interest-bearing crypto lending platforms.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Upcoming Protocol Upgrades and Integrations

• Scheduled Q2 2025 protocol upgrade is set to introduce Layer-2 compatibility and enhanced staking options, which could attract both established and new DeFi participants.
• Anticipated cross-chain bridges and integration with select South African payment providers, streamlining fiat-to-crypto flows and broadening Nexo’s addressable market.

Regulatory and Institutional Adoption

• Regulatory clarity in South Africa, with new licensing regimes, increase institutional confidence in DeFi lending.
• Nexo’s engagement with local banks and fintechs opens new onramps for capital.

New Use Cases and Ecosystem Growth

• Launch of NFT-collateralized lending modules and expansion of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization verticals.
• Continued investment in education and user-centric infrastructure in emerging markets, ensuring relevance and reach.

Investment Strategies by Time Horizon

Short-Term

• Technical breakouts above ZAR 35 offer tactical entry points as momentum builds.
• Anticipation of the next quarterly earnings report and incremental adoption in Africa may serve as near-term catalysts.
• Dips toward the ZAR 32–33 support area represent attractive opportunities for nimble investors targeting quick rotations.

Medium-Term

• The roadmap toward the Q2 2025 upgrade is likely to maintain investor focus on Nexo.
• Progressive launches of new features, alongside sector-wide DeFi recovery, support a constructive view over a 6–18 month horizon.
• Positioning on technical consolidations and ahead of announced integrations offers asymmetric risk/reward.

Long-Term

• Strong protocol fundamentals, expanding regulatory clarity, and relentless ecosystem development underpin a compelling long-term thesis.
• Diversification benefits: Nexo’s hybrid role as both a DeFi protocol and a crypto-fintech utility could see the token appreciating in line with—or potentially outperforming—the broader digital asset market should adoption continue.
• Tier-1 liquidity and strong governance structures further enhance Nexo’s appeal for strategic, multi-year allocation.

Nexo Projections (ZAR)

Is Now the Right Time to Buy Nexo?

The confluence of robust fundamentals, technical momentum, and the accelerating adoption curve presents Nexo as an exceptionally attractive proposition for forward-looking investors. The protocol’s capacity for innovation—underscored by new partnerships, impending upgrades, and a sharply rising user base—lays a strong foundation for both near-term appreciation and sustainable long-term value accrual. Confidence is further strengthened by Nexo’s best-in-class liquidity, regulatory positioning, and unique blend of CeFi/DeFi capabilities, which differentiate it from its peers.

The technical outlook indicates a high-probability environment for further upside, particularly as the sector enters a new growth phase and protocol upgrades come into focus. The projected price trajectory points to substantial room for rerating as the ecosystem scales and regulatory clarity deepens, especially within the African and global digital asset space.

In summary, while Nexo remains a high-volatility asset that demands rigorous risk management, the current confluence of on-chain signals, compelling valuations, and positive sector momentum significantly justifies a renewed interest. Nexo stands poised to outpace many of its DeFi and lending counterparts—making it a prime candidate for any investment strategy aligned with the future of programmable finance. As the second half of 2024 unfolds and the anticipated protocol upgrade draws near, Nexo could well usher in a new wave of growth across the lending and DeFi ecosystem.

How to buy Nexo?

It is simple and secure to purchase the Nexo cryptocurrency online through a regulated and reliable platform. Investors in South Africa can choose between two popular methods: buying Nexo coins outright (spot purchase), where you own the asset, or trading Nexo using CFDs (Contracts for Difference), which allows you to speculate on price movements without owning the actual coins. Each method has its own benefits and costs, so it’s important to pick the one that suits your investment goals. For a detailed comparison of the best crypto platforms available in South Africa, please refer to our table further down the page.

Spot Purchase of Nexo

A spot purchase means you’re actually buying Nexo coins that you can hold in a personal wallet. This method gives you full ownership of the cryptocurrency, which you can store, transfer, or sell at any time. Platforms typically charge a fixed commission per transaction, usually ranging from 0.5% to 2%, plus a small network fee, all payable in ZAR.

Example: Spot purchase calculation

Example: If the price of Nexo is R20 per coin, and you invest R20,000, you can buy about 1,000 Nexo coins. With an estimated transaction fee of R200, your net purchase would be approximately 990 coins.
✔️ Profit scenario: If Nexo’s price increases by 10%, your investment rises to R22,000.
Result: You make a gross profit of R2,000, or +10% on your initial investment.

Trading Nexo via CFD

Trading Nexo through CFDs means you don’t own the coin itself—instead, you take a position on its price movement. This method enables you to use leverage (borrowed funds), which amplifies both potential profits and losses. CFD trading platforms typically charge a spread (the difference between buying and selling prices) as well as overnight financing fees if you keep your position open past a trading day.

Example: CFD trading calculation

Example: With R20,000 and 5x leverage, you gain exposure to R100,000 worth of Nexo.
✔️ Profit scenario: If the price of Nexo rises by 8%, your position earns 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: That’s a R8,000 profit on your R20,000 capital (excluding fees).

Final Advice

Always compare the fees, features, and conditions offered by each crypto platform before investing. Your ideal choice depends on your experience, risk tolerance, and whether you want to own your Nexo coins or simply trade on their value. For a full side-by-side comparison of top options available in South Africa, check the comparison table lower on this page.

Our 7 tips for buying Nexo

The latest news from the Nexo

Nexo announced a new partnership with a major South African fintech firm to expand crypto-lending.
On June 25, 2024, Nexo revealed a strategic collaboration with Ozow, a leading South African payments solutions provider, to enhance crypto-lending and payment access for South African users. This alliance will allow residents to leverage faster, direct fiat on- and off-ramps via Ozow’s platform, facilitating increased entry and usage of Nexo’s lending and savings products locally. Industry analysts highlight this move as a significant step toward bridging the traditional finance and crypto sectors in South Africa, potentially resulting in wider adoption among both retail and institutional clients.

Nexo has seen a notable uptick in ZAR trading volume on South African exchanges this week.
Multiple credible market data aggregators reported a 17% week-on-week increase in the local South African Rand trading volume for NEXO tokens across Luno and VALR, the country’s primary exchanges, between June 20 and June 27, 2024. This surge appears to be linked both to the recent partnership news and a broader uptick in local demand for regulated yield-bearing crypto products amidst ongoing economic uncertainty. These signals reflect heightened domestic interest and improved liquidity for NEXO in the South African market.

South Africa’s regulatory body reaffirmed its open approach to crypto innovation, supporting Nexo’s local growth prospects.
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) issued updated guidance on June 26, 2024, reiterating support for responsible crypto innovation, provided platforms adhere to anti-money laundering and consumer protection guidelines. In interviews with BusinessTech and MyBroadband, FSCA spokespeople cited Nexo’s compliance onboarding and consumer transparency as examples of industry best practices. This regulatory clarity is seen as a constructive tailwind for Nexo's continued expansion in South Africa.

Nexo launched an educational campaign targeting South African retail investors and small businesses.
On June 23, 2024, Nexo introduced “Crypto for Everyone ZA,” an initiative providing webinars, free resources, and local events focused on understanding digital assets, risk management, and the practical use of Nexo’s products. Endorsed by several regional chambers of commerce and fintech advocacy groups, the program aims to boost crypto literacy and empower South Africans with safer, more effective access to decentralized finance opportunities.

Major local digital asset commentator lauded Nexo’s risk management amid recent sector volatility in South Africa.
Financial Mail’s senior crypto analyst highlighted Nexo’s strong solvency ratios, robust collateralization policies, and recent real-time audit releases as positive examples, especially in contrast to instability affecting some other global crypto lenders. The commentator emphasized that such strengths have bolstered confidence among South African investors during June’s large Bitcoin and altcoin price swings, positioning Nexo as a preferred platform for capital preservation and sustainable yield.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.