The Securities and Exchange Commission in Nigeria has issued Quidax, an Africa-based crypto exchange, its first provisional operating license. The development signals the beginning of formal recognition and regulatory oversight for the country’s digital asset industry.
According to a press release shared with Cointelegraph, the SEC’s license permits Quidax to operate as a registered crypto exchange in Nigeria. Quidax said the SEC’s approval is a “shot of adrenaline” for the Nigerian crypto community, encouraging further innovation and expansion.
Buchi Okoro, the co-founder and CEO of Quidax, praised the SEC — particularly under the new leadership of Emomotimi Agama — for its decisive action to bring order, confidence and investor protection to the Nigerian crypto industry. The regulatory approval now enables Quidax to collaborate with banks and other financial institutions, pending the Central Bank of Nigeria’s approval.
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The SEC’s licensing follows a comprehensive amendment to its rules on June 21, which covered digital asset issuance, offering platforms, exchange and custody. A notable part of the regulatory overhaul is the introduction of the Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme designed to help virtual assets service providers align with new regulatory requirements.
Despite these advancements, there was initial concern that the stringent licensing requirements might significantly reduce the number of local crypto exchanges. The Nigerian SEC mandates a minimum upfront capital requirement of 500 million naira ($556,620) and a current Fidelity Insurance Bond covering at least 25% of the stipulated minimum paid-up capital for both digital asset exchanges and digital assets offering platforms.
