Nigeria Sets ₦15bn Entry Bar for Foreign-Currency Stablecoin Issuers

Nigeria’s Central Bank has established a ₦15 billion paid-up capital floor for Class 2 foreign-currency stablecoin issuers, according to Live Bitcoin News. The requirement forms part of the Regulations for the Operations of Non-Security Virtual Assets in Nigeria dated November 2026, bringing a significant financial threshold into the country’s emerging digital-asset framework. Crypto.news reports that the same ₦15 billion requirement applies to foreign stablecoin issuers and that the central bank also banned algorithmic tokens alongside introducing new licensing rules. The Block’s coverage focuses on the licensing dimension, reporting that stablecoin issuers and other virtual-asset service providers must obtain local licenses. Live Bitcoin News notes that dollar-denominated tokens such as USDT and USDC can reach Nigerian users only through a Nigerian route under the regime.

The three outlets corroborate the central elements of the announcement: the ₦15 billion capital requirement for foreign stablecoin issuers and the use of domestic licensing for market participation. Live Bitcoin News provides the most granular classification, specifying that the paid-up capital rule concerns Class 2 foreign-currency issuers. Crypto.news separately emphasizes the exclusion of algorithmic tokens, while The Block presents the policy more broadly as a licensing regime covering service providers; neither additional point conflicts with the other summaries.

The rule places the central bank at the center of access to dollar-linked stablecoins in Nigeria. Issuers seeking to operate under the Class 2 category must meet the stated capitalization threshold, while the broader framework requires relevant providers to secure local authorization. The coverage does not supply application procedures, fee schedules or implementation details beyond the published requirements.

The two principal dollar stablecoins referenced in the coverage remain close to their $1 reference levels. Tether was priced at $0.999049, down 0.04% over 24 hours and 0.01% over seven days, with a $177.58 billion market capitalization. USDC traded at $0.999515, down 0.03% over 24 hours and 0.01% over seven days, with a $70.28 billion market capitalization. DeFiLlama’s verified circulating-supply figures were $177.27 billion for USDT and $70.49 billion for USDC.

The wider crypto market was broadly lower, with total capitalization at $2.62 trillion and Bitcoin down 4.70% over 24 hours. The Fear & Greed index stood at 28, placing sentiment in the “Fear” range. The regulatory attention therefore arrived against a cautious market backdrop rather than a period of broad risk appetite. What to watch is whether market participants seek authorization under the new framework and how the capital and licensing conditions shape foreign-currency stablecoin access in Nigeria.