How VASPA Shapes Practical Regulatory Outcomes and Pan-African Collaboration: Kenya in Focus
A Crucial Call for Participation in a Survey from the Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (VASPA)
Insights
Discover insights, opinions, and updates from across Africa’s virtual asset ecosystem. Through thought pieces, news highlights, and expert commentary, we explore the policies, innovations, and people shaping the continent’s digital finance landscape.
VASPA Exhibits at Nigeria Stablecoin Summit 2.0 in Lagos by Africa Stablecoin Network
ABUJA FCT, NIGERIA — July 27, 2026 — As stablecoins continue to solidify their position as the primary settlement engine for cross-border trade, remittances, and corporate liquidity across West Africa, the Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (VASPA) is proud to announce its full support and active participation in the Nigeria Stablecoin Summit (NSS) 2.0. Organized by the Africa Stablecoin Network (ASN) and convened by industry leader Nathaniel Luz, the summit will take place on Thursday, 30 July 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. VASPA’s endorsement underscores our commitment to fostering industry alignment, supporting ecosystem conveners, and advancing safe, compliant stablecoin rails across the continent. VASPA Leadership at NSS 2.0 To support ASN's vision of accelerating stablecoin adoption and regulatory clarity, VASPA’s executive leadership and policy team will be featured throughout the summit: Franklin Peters (Executive Chair, VASPA) will grace the summit as an official Special Guest, interfacing with capital allocators, banking executives, and ecosystem builders. Favour Uche (Assistant Lead, Policy & Regulatory Affairs Unit, VASPA) will be moderating a high-stakes panel session focusing on Stablecoin Regulation, AML/CFT Compliance, and Sovereign Monetary Alignment. Senator Ihenyen (Founding Trustee, VASPA) will attend as a VIP Delegate, bringing high-level policy and governance...
Nigeria Has Spoken. The Work Now Begins.
A Crucial Call for Participation in a Survey from the Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (VASPA)
VASPA Appoints Founding Trustee Senator Ihenyen to Chair Newly Created Ecosystem Growth & Advocacy Committee
ABUJA, NIGERIA—July 6, 2026 —The Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (VASPA) formally announces the appointment of its Founding Trustee and Lead Partner at Infusion Lawyers, Senator Ihenyen, as the inaugural Chairman of the newly established Ecosystem Growth & Advocacy Committee. This appointment follows a strategic activation of VASPA's recently created committees and working groups as announced last month. The Mandate: Bridging Capital, Banking, and Web3The Ecosystem Growth & Advocacy Committee has been designed as a high-leverage "action room" to accelerate commercial maturity and market integration across the continent. The committee's primary mandate centers on the following: Institutional Frameworks: Directing high-level partnerships between native virtual asset entities and traditional banking, financial, and technology networks and platforms.Trust Architecture: Removing historical frictions to build deep operational trust between operators and traditional financial institutions, including promoting the growth of domestic platforms for global competitiveness.Capital Acceleration: Creating institutional corridors to attract global capital allocators into the African digital asset ecosystem. By positioning a leading innovation lawyer and founding architect at the helm of the committee, VASPA aims to fast-track structural alignment and unlock dormant B2B remittance and liquidity pathways. Perspective from the ChairCommenting on his appointment, Senator Ihenyen highlighted the strategic positioning of the new committee as a bridge for cross-functional...
VASPA Names Board of Trustees Member Buki Ogunsakin to Chair Critical Passporting Working Group
ABUJA, NIGERIA—July 5, 2026—The Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (VASPA) has formally appointed Buki Ogunsakin, a member of its Board of Trustees (BoT) and Principal at BBO Solicitors, as the inaugural Chair of the newly launched Passporting Working Group. The appointment represents another bold leadership deployment by the pan-African body to establish unified, cross-border operational structures and follows VASPA's recent announcement of the inauguration of new committees and working groups last month. The Mandate: Eradicating Regulatory Fragmentation Across AfricaThe Passporting Working Group represents one of VASPA’s core technical "engine rooms." Its singular mandate is to develop and champion a unified licensing framework where a single virtual asset service provider (VASP) license obtained in one African jurisdiction is recognized across other African jurisdictions. By leveraging bilateral and multilateral frameworks and deep mutual cooperation, the group aims to eliminate the highly restrictive, capital-draining process of requiring startups to secure redundant localized licenses for every individual country they expand into. This initiative directly aligns with the broader economic integration goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), transforming Africa into a friction-free zone for digital financial infrastructure. Perspective from the ChairBuki Ogunsakin, an internationally recognized emerging tech lawyer and digital asset policy expert, emphasized that passporting...
As Nigeria Admits CNGN, Luno, and Others into Its Sandbox, VASPA Congratulates Entrants and Encourages SEC on Strengthening the ARIP Framework
ABUJA, NIGERIA—July 4, 2026—The Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (VASPA) issues this official statement to warmly celebrate and recognize the latest advancements in Nigeria's evolving capital market infrastructure. 1. Congratulating the Admitted CohortWe extend our warmest institutional congratulations to the seven newly admitted entities in the Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP) of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the leadership of Dr. Emomotimi Agama, the Director-General: Bitbarter Technologies LimitedLuno Fintech Nigeria LimitedGetEquity LimitedKoinkoin Global Network LimitedWrapped CBDC LtdTrovotech LtdBlockvault Custodian LtdSecuring an Approval-in-Principle (AIP) requires an extraordinary amount of operational grit, rigorous legal structuring, and a substantial commitment to compliance infrastructure. VASPA specifically recognizes the immense efforts of these leadership teams. Their entry into the sandbox sets a high benchmark for the ecosystem and validates the viability of compliant Web3 models in Nigeria. 2. Acknowledging the SEC’s Progressive Regulatory LeadershipVASPA highly commends the Management and Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria for their continued commitment to steering the nation’s digital economy by formalizing the adoption of digital asset innovations in the capital market. By onboarding innovation into a controlled sandbox environment rather than relying on restrictive enforcement, the Commission continues to solidify Nigeria’s standing as a forward-thinking financial hub. The implementation...
# FAQs
Answers to Your Most Common Questions
VASPA is the Virtual Asset Service Providers Association, a platform uniting virtual asset stakeholders in Africa to promote trust, innovation, and collaboration in the industry.
Individuals, corporations, and institutions involved in or interested in virtual assets, blockchain, or related fields can join. Membership categories include Expert, Professional, Associate, Corporate, and Institutional.
Members gain access to industry insights, training, networking events, policy advocacy, and a personalized membership dashboard. Benefits vary by membership tier.
Membership fees range from $30/year for Associate members to $5,000/year for Patronship Corporate members. Visit www.vaspa.org for details.
We promote education, global best practices, and policy advocacy to drive safe and innovative blockchain adoption across industries.
Register on our membership subscription page at www.vaspa.org or contact us at info@vaspa.org or +234(0)701 972 4951.
