By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday opened applications for the second cohort of its Regulatory Sandbox Programme, introducing dedicated tracks for virtual assets and data-enabled financial services.
Applications open today and close August 31, 2026, with the programme providing a controlled environment for innovators to test new financial products, services, business models and technologies under CBN supervision.
The CBN, in a statement signed by Acting Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, said the second cohort would operate under two tracks – the Virtual Asset Service Provider, VASP, Track and the Data-Enabled Financial Services Track.
According to the bank, the VASP Track will support solutions involving virtual assets, stablecoins, payments, settlement, custody, wallets and related financial infrastructure requiring supervised live testing.
