The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Olayemi Cardoso. Photo: CBN
The Central Bank of Nigeria is opening a fresh testing window for financial technology companies and other innovators as it seeks to balance rapid digital innovation with financial stability, consumer protection and market integrity.
The apex bank announced on Tuesday the commencement of Cohort 2 of its Regulatory Sandbox Programme, inviting eligible innovators, financial institutions, Virtual Asset Service Providers, fintechs and technology companies to apply.
Applications open on August 12, 2026, and close on August 31, 2026.
The development is significant because the new cohort expands the scope of the CBN’s controlled testing environment to include virtual assets, stablecoins and related infrastructure, while also creating a separate track for data-driven financial services.
