Nigeria’s SEC explores tokenized equity and property, but not cryptocurrency
Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly considering allowing tokenized coin offerings backed by equity, debt, or property, but not cryptocurrencies, on licensed digital asset exchanges. According to Bloomberg’s report on Monday, the regulator prefers to start with a clear and straightforward proposal before moving on to more complicated ones. The Abuja-based commission’s head of securities and investment services, Abdulkadir Abbas, stated that the regulator is evaluating applications for digital exchanges on a trial basis.
The aim is for these exchanges to undergo one year of “regulatory incubation” with limited services offered and SEC monitoring to determine their fitness to provide services. Abbas informed Bloomberg that the regulator should be able to determine whether to register the firm, extend the incubation period, or ask the firm to stop operating by the 10th month. The SEC will not begin registering digital asset exchanges until it reaches an agreement with the country’s central bank, which has blocked local financial institutions from interacting with crypto services providers. Nigeria was one of the fastest cryptocurrency adopters in the region before the central bank reinforced its restrictive rule.
Tokenized assets are digital representations of physical assets or securities that are issued and traded on a blockchain platform. They can be a more accessible way to invest in assets that may otherwise be out of reach, such as real estate, art, or rare collectibles. Tokenization can also help to reduce transaction costs, increase liquidity, and improve transparency and efficiency. While Nigeria’s SEC is exploring the possibility of allowing tokenized equity, debt, and property, it is taking a cautious approach to the rapidly evolving digital asset industry. The regulator’s regulatory incubation approach aims to strike a balance between supporting innovation and protecting investors. By testing and evaluating digital asset exchanges before granting them full registration, the SEC can ensure that they comply with regulatory requirements and provide safe and fair services to investors.
In summary, Nigeria’s SEC is considering allowing tokenized coin offerings backed by equity, debt, or property on licensed digital asset exchanges while the regulator processes applications for digital exchanges on a trial basis. The SEC aims to undergo regulatory incubation to determine the fitness of the firms to provide services.
Nigeria’s SEC explores tokenized equity and property, but not cryptocurrency
Nigeria’s SEC Considers Tokenizing Equity and Property, Excludes Cryptocurrency
Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is exploring the possibility of allowing tokenized equity, debt, and property on licensed digital asset exchanges. However, the regulator is taking a cautious approach and will start with a clear and straightforward proposal before moving on to more complicated ones. The SEC will evaluate digital exchanges on a trial basis for one year of “regulatory incubation” with limited services offered and SEC monitoring to determine their fitness to provide services. The regulator’s aim is to strike a balance between supporting innovation and protecting investors. By testing and evaluating digital asset exchanges before granting them full registration, the SEC can ensure that they comply with regulatory requirements and provide safe and fair services to investors.
