Nigeria set to pass bill recognizing Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies
The Nigerian government will reportedly soon pass a law that will recognize the usage of Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies as a means to keep up to date with “global practices.”
The news was reported by Nigerian-based masthead Punch Newspapers on Dec. 18 following an interview with House of Representatives Committee on Capital Markets chairman Babangida Ibrahim.
The report stated that if the Investments and Securities Act, 2007 (Amendment) Bill is signed into law it would allow the local Securities and Exchange Commission to “recognize cryptocurrency and other digital funds as capital for investment.”
Ibrahim stressed the need for Nigeria to keep up to date with trends and developments in capital markets:
The report comes almost 24 months after Nigeria banned crypto activity in Feb. 2021 when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ordered Nigerian crypto exchanges and service providers to cease activity and mandated banks to shut down the accounts of any individuals or entities found to be engaging in trading activities.
But Ibrahim — who also served as Nigeria’s President between 1985 and 1993 — insists the passing of the law isn’t a 180-degree turn on the ban but rather a secondary review of what is within the scope of the CBN’s powers:
“When cryptocurrency was initially banned in Nigeria, the CBN discovered that most of these investors don’t even use local accounts. So, they are not within the jurisdiction of the CBN. Because they are not using local accounts, there is no way the CBN can check them,” he explained.
If the law passes, amendments will be made to Nigeria’s Investments and Securities Act 2007.
In addition to the assignment of legal recognition to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the law will outline the
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