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Nigerian Fintech Founder: ‘African Fintechs Have a Greater Scale Potential Than Other Tech Startups’
9.5.2022
The African fintech industry has grown rapidly over the past few years and this has caught the attention of some well-resourced venture capital (VC) firms. As one would expect, Nigerian fintech startups have dominated the continent in terms of funds raised or the number of transactions performed....
Nigerian Agencies Told to Stop ‘Demonizing’ Crypto Industry Players
20.4.2022
Nigerian public and law enforcement agencies have been urged to “stop the demonization” of the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry. According to an association that advocates for the risk-based regulation of the crypto industry, financial institutions should not use a Nigerian...
Study Finds 33.4 Million Nigerian Adults Hold or Have Traded Crypto in Last 6 Months
12.4.2022
According to a new report, approximately 33.4 million Nigerians, or 35% of the country’s adult population, are holders of cryptocurrencies or have traded them in the past six months. The report attributes the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies to rising inflation and the plunging value...
Report: Four Nigerian Lenders Penalized for Failing to Block Crypto Transactions
7.4.2022
The Nigerian central bank recently fined four financial institutions it accuses of failing to stop clients from using their respective platforms to conduct cryptocurrency transactions. According to one of the affected institutions, the central bank is using a certain “advanced...
Nigerian Blockchain Advocacy Group Says ‘Crypto Is Legit’ — Calls for Regulation of Industry
7.2.2022
The Nigerian blockchain advocacy group, the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SIBAN), has said crypto is legit and must be regulated. The group adds that any such regulation should on one hand encourage innovation, but discourage bad actors on the other. Equal Access...
Nigerian Crypto Firm Executive: Central Bank Prohibition Led to Growth in Crypto Awareness
31.1.2022
The chief marketing officer (CMO) of a cryptocurrency payments solution company, Rotimi Ogunwede, has insisted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s decision to bar crypto entities from the banking system may be the reason why Nigerians are now more knowledgeable about cryptocurrencies....
Nigerian Government Minister Calls for Regulation of Crypto, Considers Additional Body ‘to Play That Role’
14.12.2021
A minister in the Nigerian government has called on authorities in the country to consider regulating cryptocurrencies instead of clamping down on them. The Law Does Not Stipulate Who Regulates Cryptos In what appears to be a rebuke of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its stance...
Nigerian Experts: CBDC Still Unattractive to Users Despite Claim of ‘Excellent’ Adoption Rate
13.12.2021
Nigerian blockchain and cryptocurrency experts have suggested that many prospective users will only consider adopting the e-naira once the central bank has done enough to make the CBDC (central bank digital currency) an attractive option to use. E-Naira Still Unattractive to Users Some Nigerian...
Tanzanian Central Bank Preparing for CBDC to Ensure Country Is Not Left Behind
28.11.2021
Florens Luoga, the governor of the Bank of Tanzania, said the apex bank has kickstarted preparations for a central bank digital currency. He said the bank was doing this to ensure Tanzania is not left behind as other countries adopt digital currencies. Keeping Abreast With Developments on...
Nigerian Crypto and Blockchain Advocacy Group: Freezing or Closure of Bank Accounts Not Supported by Law
23.11.2021
The Blockchain Industry Coordinating Committee of Nigeria (BICCON), has said it is not lawful for Nigerian financial institutions to arbitrarily freeze or close bank accounts belonging to individuals or entities accused of trading cryptocurrency. Affected Crypto Entities Told to Seek Legal Advice...
Central Bank’s Targeting of P2P Crypto Transactions Forces Startup to Quit Nigeria
23.11.2021
The Nigerian startup behind the social payment app for cryptocurrency and fiat, Kurepay, says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s current crackdown on crypto entities has forced it to suspend operations in Nigeria. ‘Horrible’ Year for Crypto Adoption According to a report...
Nigeria Central Bank Governor: Cryptocurrency Is a Product ‘Embedded in High Level of Illegality’
18.11.2021
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, has claimed that a majority of cryptocurrency transactions are embedded in illegality. He also asserts that there is no room for cryptocurrency in the Nigerian banking space. Pushback Against Endsars Protest Claims In his latest...
Nearly 500,000 Nigerian CBDC Wallets Downloaded Since Launch
17.11.2021
Nearly half a million e-naira wallets have been downloaded a few weeks after the central bank digital currency (CBDC) was officially launched by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, the central bank has said. E-Naira’s Initial Trade Volumes In addition to the 488,000 wallets that have been...
Nigerian Central Bank Intensifying Fight Against Cryptocurrency Traders
10.11.2021
Just a few days after launching the e-naira digital currency, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now reportedly ramping up the pressure against cryptocurrency traders. Bank Employees Warned In a memo to its staff seen by Bitcoin.com News, one of Nigeria’s leading banks, FCMB, warns...
Nigerian Judge Rules in Favor of Accused Crypto Startup, Accounts to Be Reopened
27.10.2021
A Nigerian Federal Court judge recently ruled that the two frozen bank accounts belonging to Rise Vest Technologies, which is accused of trading cryptocurrencies, must be reopened. CBN’s Bank Account Freeze Order Dismissed In a ruling that overturns the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s...
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...
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...
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...
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...