Nigeria's FinTech Regulatory Framework: Key 2025 Developments And Outlook For 2026

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria's fintech sector has entered a critical phase of regulatory maturation. Regulatory activities in Nigeria's financial technology ("Fintech") sector in 2025 reflected a deliberate policy approach centred on strengthening market integrity, improving governance and oversight and managing systemic risk while supporting innovation and facilitating development. Across open banking, electronic payments, digital lending, remittances, foreign exchange, data protection, blockchain and cryptocurrency, regulators focused on operational controls, conduct standards and enforcement readiness. This shift by the regulators in 2025 signalled that Fintech operators are no longer regarded solely as facilitators of financial inclusion; rather, they are increasingly recognised as systemically relevant participants whose operational or governance failures could have broader implications for the country's financial ecosystem stability. This newsletter examines these