Walking the Talk: Why I Just Paid for My VASPA Membership (And Why You Should Too)
Today, 31 May 2026, I did something that felt both deeply symbolic and self-fulfilling: I paid for my professional membership with the Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (VASPA). For context, when we opened VASPA’s doors to the industry back in June 2025, we offered a one-year free membership window...
Africa’s Virtual Asset Sector: The Long Wait to Win and Arsenal’s Triumph
Football has a rhythm. Though a Chelsea fan whose English club has struggled all season to find rhythm, I see some rhythm when I watch my rival club, Arsenal, play. When Arsenal lack rhythm, they try to find a formula to either get all 3 points or share the...
Why President Trump’s New Fintech Order in the United States Matters for Africa
The global financial landscape just took a significant step toward co-building. On 19 May 2026—the day Arsenal Football Club finally won the English Premier League after a 22-year wait—President Donald Trump was gunning for a different kind of cup: a U.S. where walls between FinTech and traditional financial services...
Reflections on the Africa Finance Festival 2026: Where Traditional Finance Meets Blockchain
The energy in Lagos at the just-concluded Africa Finance Festival 2026 (AFF 2026) was simply contagious. Held 12–13 May 2026 at Lagos Oriental, participants included asset managers, bankers, innovators, investors, regulators, governments, and fellow professionals. The conference theme was “Future Forward: Building Resilient, Sustainable & Digital Financial Systems for...
Building a Foundation of Digital Trust: Reflections on PAFON 3.0
On 24 April 2026, I attended the Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON 3.0) at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos. The conference was themed, “Fair Digital Payments as a Catalyst for Deepening Financial Inclusion in Nigeria.” Although I was one of the invited guest speakers discussing how to orchestrate stablecoins...
The Evolution of Blockchain Policy and Crypto Regulation in Nigeria: From Resistance to Resilience
I am honored to have been invited by the International Centre for Emerging Technologies (ICET), Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State (FUT Minna), to deliver a guest lecture for their Masters in Fintech & Financial Blockchain (MFB 724). My session is titled: "The Evolution of Blockchain Policy and Crypto...
Nigeria’s Digital Asset Future: Stuck between Regulation and Surveillance
The African digital asset landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Ghana has just officially passed its Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 into law, joining Kenya, which achieved a similar legislative milestone this year. The Bill now awaits presidential assent. As Nigeria’s neighbors celebrate clear, statutory frameworks, many...
Pathway to Freedom: Sovereignty, Secession, and the Future of Nigeria’s Union
By Senator Ihenyen To Dream and Dream and Dream Again That we may dream of wings to fly They give us freedom But like elephants on butterflies, They stamp us underground That we may dance to the music of the moon With the passion of endless hope...
A Guide for Financial Institutions and Crypto-Risk Mitigation in Nigeria: From Blanket Prohibition and Stereotypical Discrimination to Proper and Compliant Risk-Based Control
Introduction Whenever blanket prohibitions are made by financial institutions (FIs)—whether based on common stereotypes, fiat directives, or risk speculations over crypto-related transactions—there is serious cause for concern. Given the sanctity of the bank-customer relationship, the constitutional underpinnings of property rights, and the essential role of banking and financial services...
Regulating Stablecoins in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies to Protect Local Currencies
Stablecoins are gaining traction as a viable alternative to traditional payment systems, with the potential to transform the global payments landscape. According to a recent McKinsey report, 2025 could be a pivotal year for stablecoins, driven by their growing adoption and favorable regulatory developments. Noticeably, the most popular stablecoins...
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