cbn

The CBN has opened applications for a specific track of virtual asset activities within Cohort 2 of its Regulatory Sandbox Program, described as the first formal channel for cryptocurrency businesses to test products under the direct supervision of the CBN in Nigeria. The track accepts innovators, financial institutions, virtual asset service providers, fintech companies, and technology firms, with applications open from August 12 to August 31, 2026.
The sandbox enables supervised live testing of products such as stablecoins, payment and settlement solutions, custody services, and wallets in a controlled environment in which the parameters and the scope of users are explicitly limited. Participation does not equate to having a full license to operate outside the sandbox. It is a structured way for the CBN to observe how cryptocurrency products behave in practice before considering broader market access.