Search
Nigerians Optimistic CBDC Will Improve Payments and Help Promote Cryptocurrencies
7.10.2021
Nigerians are hopeful the planned central bank digital currency (CBDC), also known as the e-naira, is going to enhance cross-border payments and make it “easier for the naira to be widely used and accepted.” E-Naira Launch a Boon for Cryptos In fact, according to a VOA report, some...
Nigerian Court Paves Way for CBDC Rollout, Suggests ‘Plaintiff May Be Adequately Compensated’
5.10.2021
The Nigerian High Court that is presiding over the e-naira trademark infringement case brought against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has ruled that Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) “may proceed on national interest” considerations. The ruling clears a crucial legal hurdle...
Nigeria CBDC Countdown: Central Bank Delays E-Naira Rollout
2.10.2021
A spokesperson for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Osita Nwanisobi, has said the launch of the much-hyped e-naira central bank digital currency (CBDC) has now been postponed to a later date. Nwanisobi’s announcement came less than 24 hours before the CBN was scheduled to launch...
Nigerian CBDC Website Goes Live, Central Bank Faces Trademark Infringement Allegations
29.9.2021
According to reports from Nigeria, the official website for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s e-naira digital currency is now up and running. The reports come just a few days before the start of the central bank digital currency (CBDC) rollout. E-Naira Similar to Physical Currency...
Nigerian Central Bank Threats Force Parallel Exchange Rate Tracker to Suspend Service
20.9.2021
Following threats from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the management of Abokifx, a website that tracks the Nigerian currency’s black market exchange rates, has announced the suspension of their daily updates. This suspension will remain in effect until Abokifx gets “better clarity...
Luno to Reinstate Deposit and Withdrawal Function for Nigerian Clients — Denies User Speculation
18.9.2021
One of the African continent’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, Luno, has told its Nigerian users that it is “in the process of reinstating deposit and withdrawal functions on our platform.” According to an email that was sent to Nigerian users, this reinstatement is expected...
Nigeria’s CBDC ‘a Safer Option’ Than Privately Issued Cryptocurrencies: Central Bank Official
14.9.2021
As part of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s digital currency charm offensive, Folashodun Shonubi, the institution’s deputy governor, has claimed that the country’s upcoming central bank digital currency (CBDC) will be a “safer option from privately issued...
E-Naira Countdown: Nigerian Experts Question Selection of Bitt Inc as Central Bank’s Fintech Partner
10.9.2021
Nigerian fintech entrepreneurs have slammed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s decision to select Bitt Inc as its fintech partner. They insist that the choice of Bitt Inc, a Barbados based firm, undermines central bank claims that it is “fighting for the naira in the forex...
Nigerian Central Bank: We Are Not Worried About the Naira’s Valuation
9.9.2021
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s director of monetary policy, Hassan Mahmud, has suggested that the institution is not worried about the naira’s valuation but is instead interested in “boosting dollar supply on the currency market.” Naira Depreciation According to...
Report: Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission Sets Up Fintech Division for Crypto Research
5.9.2021
Nigeria’s securities regulator, the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set up a fintech division “to study crypto investments.” This was revealed by Lamido Yuguda, the director-general of the SEC during an interview. Protecting Crypto Investors In...
Central Bank of Nigeria Selects Barbados-Based Fintech Firm as Technical Partner for CBDC Project
1.9.2021
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has named the fintech firm Bitt Inc. as a technical partner for its digital currency project, the e-naira. As a technical partner, Bitt is expected to use its “technological competence and implementation experience” to help the CBN successfully launch...
Nigerian Central Bank Reveals CBDC Guidelines, Announces Plan to Launch E-Naira Wallet
30.8.2021
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reportedly confirmed that its e-naira digital currency will have a legal tender and non-interest-bearing asset status. In addition, a limit on customer transactions and value-based transactions will be imposed. Five-Stage Launch According to a Nairametrics...
Nigerian Central Bank Freezes Bank Accounts of Fintech Firms, Accuses Them of Violating Forex Regulations
19.8.2021
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reportedly frozen bank accounts belonging to four fintech firms for up to 180 days after a Federal High Court in Abuja acceded to an “ex parte motion.” The ex parte motion, which is a form of temporary suspension, was granted after a Nigerian chief...
Report: Nigeria’s Digital Currency to Be Designated ‘Critical National Infrastructure’
11.8.2021
According to a report, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is planning to have its proposed digital currency designated “critical national infrastructure” in order to protect it from operational and cyber-security risks. In addition, the CBN will also apply regulatory and compliance...
Using a Crypto Loan App to Bring Financial Services to Excluded Groups in Africa
9.8.2021
In much of Africa, many people still lack access to basic financial services for many reasons. One of the reasons is that financial institutions have set standards or thresholds that make it impossible for low-income earners to even open a bank account. Access to soft loans or other forms...
Leader of Nigerian Crypto Stakeholders’ Body Welcomes the E-Naira — Says It ‘Comes With No Magic Wand’
1.8.2021
Nigeria’s proposed digital currency, the e-naira, is likely to be a welcome boost to ongoing efforts to reduce the number of Nigerians that are financially excluded, a leader of a stakeholders’ body has said. However, according to Senator Ihenyen, the president of Stakeholders...
Nigerian Crypto Exchange Boss: CBN Directive Led Shift of Trades From Centralized Exchanges to Black Market Exchanges
1.8.2021
It has been more than six months since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directed banks to stop serving customers from the cryptocurrency industry. While the measure appears to have succeeded in removing crypto entities from the banking ecosystem, the policy has however led to the growth...
Nigerian Central Bank Stops Forex Sales to Bureaus de Change — Operators Accused of Feeding Black Market
28.7.2021
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently announced the abrupt end to sales and outsourcing of foreign exchange to Bureau de Change (BDC) operators after accusing them of failing to stick to their core mandate. Instead of providing forex to retail users, BDCs are believed to be supplying...
Report: Nigeria to Start Piloting Digital Currency in October
24.7.2021
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reportedly set October 1 as the commencement date for the trial phase of its digital currency project. Dubbed project Giant, this digital currency project, or the “e-naira,” is expected to use the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain. CBDC Comes to Life...
Nigeria’s June P2P Bitcoin Trade Volumes Surged Again Despite Central Bank’s Crypto Restrictions
12.7.2021
Nigeria’s peer-to-peer bitcoin trade volumes went up to just under $38 million in June 2021, the latest data shows. This surge becomes only the second time Nigerian P2P traded volumes have breached the $35 million mark in 2021. March 2021 is the only other period when P2P bitcoin traded...