President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Presidential Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination, 2026, establishing a unified regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology and other virtual assets in Nigeria.
The Executive Order, which takes immediate effect, is aimed at harmonising the activities of government agencies responsible for regulating the country’s digital asset ecosystem.
It is also expected to strengthen investor protection, curb fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing, while promoting responsible innovation in the fast-growing virtual assets sector.
Under the new framework, a Virtual Asset Council has been established to coordinate the oversight of the industry. The council will be chaired by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), while the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will serve as vice-chairpersons alongside other relevant government agencies.
According to the Presidency, the Executive Order does not create a new regulator or remove the statutory powers of existing agencies. Instead, it is designed to improve collaboration among regulators and ensure a coordinated approach to supervising cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, tokenised assets and other blockchain-based financial services.
The government said the initiative will help close regulatory loopholes exploited by fraudulent operators, improve cybersecurity, enhance tax compliance, protect investors and boost confidence in Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting innovation while ensuring transparency, accountability and financial stability in the country’s evolving digital economy.
The Virtual Asset Council has been directed to develop a harmonised implementation framework to guide the effective enforcement of the new regulatory regime.
