Report: Nigerian Central Bank Targets Tenfold Increase in Number of CBDC Users, Governor Says Use of Cash Will ‘Dissipate to Zero’

Despite the apparent slow embrace of the e-naira digital currency by Nigerians, the Central Bank of Nigeria governor has said his institution is targeting a tenfold increase in the number of users of the digital currency in the next twelve months. The governor predicted that the use of cash will “dissipate to zero” while the … Read more

Nigerian Central Bank Told to Consider Floating the Naira, Recent Interest Rate Hike Slammed

The Central Bank of Nigeria should be discontinuing the fixed exchange rate system and let the naira freely float against the major currencies, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the leader of a Nigerian association of bureau de change operators has said. The leader also slammed the recent adjustment of the central bank’s interest rate to 13%, which … Read more

Nigerian Lenders Frustrating CBDC’s Adoption — Central Bank Governor

Apathetic Nigerian lenders are frustrating the e-naira’s adoption because they are worried this could deprive them of a key revenue source, Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, has said. Emefiele said the central bank is working on a channel that would enable Nigerians without bank accounts to open e-naira wallets. E-Naira Undercuts … Read more

Nigerian Central Bank Governor Says Fintechs and Cryptos Change the Way Financial Systems Function

The Nigerian central bank governor and bitcoin critic, Godwin Emefiele, recently remarked that the rise of fintechs and cryptocurrencies among other technologies have forced banks and financial institutions to change the way they operate. According to Emefiele, this requires the central bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) to rethink the way it regulates the financial system. … Read more

Report: Nigerian Central Bank Incentive Scheme Failed to Halt Naira Depreciation

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s attempt to incentivize the country’s forex market through the so-called “Naira for Dollar” scheme has failed. This is evidenced by the local currency’s plunge of more than 25% since the launch of the incentive scheme in March 2021. Naira Depreciation The CBN’s scheme that encourages recipients of cross-border remittances … Read more

Organizer of Binance-Sponsored Crypto Tour Says Campaign Was Successful, Denies Reports of Arrest

A crypto enthusiast and organizer of the Binance-sponsored Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Awareness Tour (BCAT) recently held in Nigeria, has rejected reports he was arrested by security agents reportedly spooked by large crowds that were following the campaign. The enthusiast said the high number of people that attended the BCAT tour proves that Nigerians “want to … Read more

Report: Kenyan and Nigerian Central Bankers Attack Cryptocurrencies but Endorse CBDCs

Cryptocurrencies are very unstable for them to become a widely used method of payment, the Nigerian and Kenyan central bankers have reportedly said. In addition, the bankers claim that cryptocurrencies also pose a risk to financial stability. Narrowing the Financial Exclusion Gap The Nigerian and Kenyan central bankers have said cryptocurrencies are too volatile to … Read more

Report: Nigerian Crypto Restrictions and Twitter Ban Have ‘Crippled Foreign Direct Investment in the Fintech Industry’

A new report has concluded that restrictions on cryptocurrency trading, as well as the banning of Twitter by Nigerian authorities, may have “crippled foreign direct investment in the fintech industry.” Foreign Direct Investment ‘Crippled’ A new report has found that restrictions imposed by Nigerian authorities on crypto trading may have contributed to the reduced foreign … Read more

Study Finds 33.4 Million Nigerian Adults Hold or Have Traded Crypto in Last 6 Months

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 of the local currency. Converting From Fiat to Crypto via P2P … Read more

Report: Four Nigerian Lenders Penalized for Failing to Block Crypto Transactions

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 ability” to detect crypto transactions. Lenders Unable to Detect Crypto Transactions The Central Bank of … Read more