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After 100% post-launch growth, Blockchain.com doubles down on regulation, compliance, education



After recording a 100 percent surge in transaction volume since its re-entry into the Nigerian market, Blockchain.com is reinforcing its commitment to regulatory compliance and user education, signaling a long-term strategy to build a trusted and sustainable crypto ecosystem across Africa.

Owenize Odia, general manager for Africa, Blockchain.com, at a media parley in Lagos, described Nigeria as a priority market for Blockchain.com, noting that the company’s focus is to build a sustainable, compliant, and trusted crypto ecosystem on the continent.

“Nigeria is a very important market for Blockchain.com. Compliance is fundamental to how we operate. We take it seriously. We engage regulators openly, and in Nigeria, we have met with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and applied for the appropriate license. Building a sustainable business here requires regulatory alignment,” Odia said.

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Odia, who joined Blockchain.com in October 2023, said the company’s return to Nigeria marks a new phase of strategic investment in Africa.

Founded in 2011 as a blockchain explorer for tracking Bitcoin transactions, Blockchain.com has since evolved into a full-fledged wallet and exchange platform with over 93 million users globally. Africa, Odia said, remains one of its fastest-growing regions.

Since announcing its official re-entry into Nigeria earlier this year, Blockchain.com’s local brokerage volume has grown by more than 100 percent. The company has built a local team, set up an office, and plans to hire more staff to support its expansion into other African markets, including Ghana. “We want physical presence, here in Nigeria. We have set up offices, employ staff, and commerces regulatory engagement. After Nigeria, we will expand to Ghana and other markets. We are here for the long term, building responsibly and working closely with regulators,” Odia said.

A key part of Blockchain.com’s Nigeria strategy is user education. Odia revealed that the company is planning a regional education initiative, a series of conferences across four Nigerian regions, to help users understand cryptocurrency safely and responsibly. “Crypto adoption in Africa has mostly been limited to a young, tech-savvy demographic. Our goal is to expand beyond that. We will educate professionals, entrepreneurs, and older users who want to understand Blockchain.com better. The media is a key part of that effort,” Odia added.

Michael Emeeka, head of business and customer operations Nigeria, Blockchain.com, emphasized that the company’s goal is to make crypto part of everyday life for Nigerians; beyond trading and speculation. “Our approach is simple: build trust with customers, invest in local talent, and educate the market about practical uses of crypto. Many Nigerians use crypto for payments, remittances, and business transactions. We want it to become an everyday financial tool,” Emeeka said.

Emeeka added that though the company is still awaiting its Nigerian license, it already operates under strict global compliance standards as Blockchain.com holds licenses in other jurisdictions and is in the process of registering with Nigeria’s SEC and other financial institutions, including Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) and National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA).

The company also plans to tackle misinformation and the risks of informal peer-to-peer (P2P) trading, which has been linked to money laundering and fraud. “Apart from stablecoins, most crypto assets are volatile. We will continue to educate users on the importance of doing their own research before investing. Many people use P2P platforms without realizing they could be buying tainted crypto. Education is key,” Emeeka averred.

Serena Braide, compliance MLRO officer, Blockchain.com, underscored that company’s operations are guided by international financial integrity standards and local laws. “Given the high-risk nature of the industry, we follow strict global standards, starting with Know-Your-Customer (KYC), customer due diligence, sanctions screening, and ongoing transaction monitoring. We welcome regulatory scrutiny because it builds trust and long-term sustainability,” Braide stated.

Braide added that while jurisdictions differ in identification methods, such as Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) compared to the U.S. Social Security Number, the principles of compliance remain uniform globally. Blockchain.com employs leading compliance tools like Elliptic for transaction monitoring and risk detection.

Read also: Where Crypto Culture Meets Casino Energy: Spartans Is Redefining the Future of Play

Expanding beyond traditional crypto trading, Blockchain.com recently announced a new product offering called Ondo Finance, which allows users to access tokenized U.S. stocks such as Apple, Tesla, and Google directly from the Blockchain.com app.

Chisom Felix, marketing lead Nigeria, Blockchain.com, explained that the product lets users fund their wallets in naira and invest in U.S. equities without using foreign brokerage accounts. “Customers have been asking for broader investment choices beyond crypto. With tokenized assets, we are helping them diversify safely while staying within a secure, compliant platform,” Felix said.

Royal Ibeh is a senior journalist with years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s technology and health sectors. She currently covers the Technology and Health beats for BusinessDay newspaper, where she writes in-depth stories on digital innovation, telecom infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public health policies.



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