*BREAKING NEWS*

Tinubu Signs Bill Recognizing Crypto, other Digital Assets

"Investments and Securities Bill 2025" has been described as landmark legislation

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has approved the Investments and Securities Bill (ISB) 2025, replacing the Investments and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007 with the newly enacted Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025.

According to reports from Techeconomy, the newly signed law officially acknowledges digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and investment contracts, as securities. This milestone legislation has been widely praised by industry stakeholders, who view it as a significant boost to Nigeria’s capital market. Experts believe the law will strengthen the legal framework, enhance investor protection, and introduce key reforms to promote market integrity, transparency, and sustainable growth.

With the enactment of the ISA 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reaffirmed as the primary regulatory authority overseeing Nigeria’s capital market. The new law empowers the SEC to regulate market activities, ensuring capital formation, investor protection, fairness, efficiency, transparency, and the mitigation of systemic risks.

Additionally, the Act introduces significant changes to align Nigeria’s financial market with international standards. It explicitly outlaws Ponzi schemes and other illegal investment ventures, imposing strict penalties on those who promote such fraudulent activities. The law also addresses previous limitations on states raising funds through the capital market, providing greater flexibility in this area.

This development demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s recognition of virtual and digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies and investment contracts, as legitimate securities within the Nigerian financial system.