Crypto Regulation: Nigerian SEC Raises Capital Requirement For Exchanges To N2 Billion

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is paying huge consideration to its quickly creating cryptocurrency business marked by a string of latest rules. In the most recent growth, the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has shared a revised minimal capital for all regulated market entities, together with operators within the digital asset market.

Nigerian Regulator Hikes Minimum Capital For Crypto Exchanges By $1.05M

On January 16, 2026, the Nigerian SEC released a round speaking adjustments within the minimal capital (MC) necessities for main monetary entities, particularly: core and non-core capital market operators, market infrastructure establishments, capital market consultants, monetary know-how (FinTech) operators, digital asset service suppliers (VASPs), and commodity market intermediaries. 

The securities regulator has defined that the revised MC framework is to spice up operational resilience, align capital adequacy, promote market stability, and assist innovation in nascent market segments such because the cryptocurrency business. 

In relation to VASPs, the minimal capital for digital asset exchanges (DAX) and digital asset custodians has been elevated from N500 million ($352,000) to N2 billion ($1.4 million).  Meanwhile, all digital property providing platforms (DAOP) chargeable for issuance and first sale of digital property to the general public are anticipated to fulfill a capital threshold of N1 billion ($704,111). 

Notably, the Nigerian SEC’s new round expands its recognition of a number of VASPs that had been working in a regulatory void. These embody the ancillary digital property service suppliers (AVASPs) who present auxiliary providers similar to blockchain analytics instruments, and so forth who at the moment are mandated to function with a minimal capital of N300 million ($211,200).

Under the brand new regime, the bottom capital necessities for each digital property middleman (DAI) and digital property platform operators (DAPO) have additionally been positioned at N500 million ($352,000). In new additions, real-world property tokenization and providing platforms (RATOP) now have a set minimal capital requirement of N1billion ($704,111). 

According to the SEC, all involved entities are suggested to adjust to the brand new regime on or earlier than June 30, 2027, as failure to take action will end in penalties, together with suspension or withdrawal of registration, as decided by the Commission.

Nigeria Government Increases Focus On Crypto Industry

Aside from the SEC’s current round, different developments point out that the Nigerian authorities is growing its participation within the cryptocurrency market. 

Notably, the brand new Nigeria Tax Administration Act (2025) now requires all digital asset exercise to be linked to Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN), successfully capturing the nascent business as a brand new tax base.

These current measures comply with a current partnership by the SEC and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) centered on cracking down on Ponzi scheme operators and different related scams.