Nigeria Crypto Law: What’s Legal, What’s Not in 2025

When it comes to Nigeria crypto law, the legal framework that governs how citizens buy, sell, and use digital assets in Nigeria. Also known as Nigerian cryptocurrency regulations, it’s no longer a gray zone—it’s a defined system with real consequences. After years of confusion, Nigeria officially lifted its 2021 crypto ban in early 2025 and replaced it with the ISA 2025, the Investment and Securities Act amendments that now regulate crypto exchanges and token sales under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This isn’t just a policy shift—it’s a full reboot of how the government sees crypto: not as a threat, but as a financial tool that needs oversight.

Under ISA 2025, only exchanges that meet strict licensing, KYC, and anti-money laundering rules can operate legally in Nigeria. Platforms like Binance, Luno, and Cryptal are now officially registered, while others got shut down overnight. But here’s the catch: the law exists on paper, not always on the street. Police still stop people for carrying crypto wallets, and some banks still block transfers to licensed exchanges. Why? Because enforcement hasn’t caught up with legislation. The Central Bank of Nigeria still doesn’t recognize crypto as legal tender, and many officials don’t understand the difference between a wallet and a scam. That mismatch creates chaos for regular users—even if they’re following the rules.

What you can do legally? Buy crypto on licensed platforms, hold it in your own wallet, trade between tokens, and even use it to send money abroad through approved channels. What you can’t do? Use it to pay for goods in stores (that’s still banned), run an unlicensed exchange, or promote a token without SEC approval. The law also gives authorities power to freeze accounts linked to fraud or money laundering—which is why some users got their funds locked even when they did nothing wrong. It’s a system still finding its feet, and the people caught in the middle are everyday Nigerians trying to use crypto to protect their savings from inflation.

That’s why the posts below matter. They don’t just list rules—they show you what’s actually happening on the ground. You’ll find real reviews of approved exchanges, breakdowns of how ISA 2025 affects daily trading, and warnings about scams that still target users who think they’re safe because the ban is over. You’ll also see how other countries’ crypto laws, like Singapore’s licensing rules or Turkey’s payment bans, compare to Nigeria’s messy transition. This isn’t theory. It’s what people are dealing with right now.