Blockchain.com has been admitted into the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission’s Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme, the company announced on Aug. 18, 2026. The admission allows the platform to operate within a defined sandbox scope in Nigeria, subject to ongoing compliance obligations, testing parameters, and regulatory conditions set by the SEC.
The approval is not a full license, but a conditional entry that gives Blockchain.com legal clarity to offer cryptocurrency trading, wallet solutions, and over-the-counter services to Nigerian users while the SEC evaluates digital asset business models and develops long-term rules.
Owen Odia, General Manager for Africa at Blockchain.com, said: “Nigeria is one of Africa’s most important digital asset markets and participating in the SEC’s ARIP is an important step forward in our long-term commitment to the country.” He added that the programme enables the company to work directly with the SEC in a controlled environment and support a framework that protects consumers while enabling responsible innovation.
Blockchain.com said Nigeria is a priority market within its broader Africa strategy. The company has secured other regulatory approvals over the past year, including registration with the UK Financial Conduct Authority, authorization under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, and a Virtual Asset Service Provider licence from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
Since 2011, Blockchain.com has supported more than 94 million wallets, 44 million confirmed accounts, and over $1.1 trillion in crypto transactions. The Nigerian SEC’s sandbox approach marks a shift from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2021 restrictions on banks facilitating crypto transactions toward a more structured regulatory framework for digital assets.
The move is seen as a positive signal for Nigeria’s crypto ecosystem, where adoption is among the highest globally and many users rely on digital assets for remittances, savings, and as a hedge against currency devaluation.
