International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that tokenization and blockchain technology will fundamentally transform global financial market infrastructure (FMI), but insisted that regulated financial institutions will remain indispensable despite increasing automation of financial transactions.

The position is contained in a new IMF working paper titled “The Evolution of Financial Market Infrastructures in a Tokenized Economy: Exploring Blockchain Implementation Options for Issuance, Central Clearing, Settlement, and Reporting,” prepared by Yaiza Cabedo, Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli, Fabian Schär and Nicolas Zhang.

According to the report, tokenization represents the most significant technological advancement in financial market infrastructure since the transition from paper-based securities to electronic records, with the potential to streamline trading, settlement and post-trade operations across global financial markets.

However, the IMF cautioned that while blockchain technology and smart contracts can automate several operational processes, they cannot replace the governance, legal accountability and risk management functions performed by regulated financial institutions.

“Tokenization has the potential to reshape Financial Market Infrastructures more profoundly than any technological shift since securities dematerialization,” the report stated.

The IMF explained that distributed ledger technology (DLT) and programmable smart contracts can automate critical market activities, including record-keeping, transaction reconciliation, delivery-versus-payment settlements and collateral management, thereby reducing operational costs, settlement risks and processing delays.

While acknowledging the efficiency gains associated with tokenization, the IMF warned that the technology introduces new risks that policymakers and regulators must address.

Among the challenges identified are vulnerabilities in smart contracts, governance concentration within blockchain networks, reliance on external data providers known as “oracles,” privacy concerns, cybersecurity threats and fragmentation across different blockchain ecosystems.

Financial technology experts say the IMF’s position reflects growing consensus among regulators that blockchain should be viewed as an enabler rather than a replacement for traditional financial institutions.

Tokenization is the process of converting sensitive information or physical assets into secure, randomized digital identifiers called tokens.

On the other hand, Blockchain is a decentralized, distributed digital ledger that securely stores data across a network of computers.

Instead of relying on a central authority like a bank, network participants use consensus mechanisms to verify transactions.

Data is grouped into cryptographically secured “blocks” and chronologically linked into an unalterable chain

The World Bank has approved a fresh $1.25 billion loan for Nigeria under its Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (NAIJA) programme.

The approval was announced this week as the World Bank unveiled a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria covering the 2026–2032 period.

According to the bank, the six-year framework is designed to support Nigeria’s development priorities by promoting private sector-led growth and creating more employment opportunities across the country.

“The World Bank Group has endorsed a new Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria spanning 2026–2032, setting out a strategy to create more and better jobs at scale by unlocking private sector-led growth,” the statement read.

It added that the bank had “also approved the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration Development Policy Financing operation, which supports Nigeria’s transition toward a more inclusive growth model that spurs growth and creates jobs.”

The latest approval follows recent criticism after reports emerged that the Federal Government was seeking another $1.25 billion facility from the World Bank to finance economic reforms, improve competitiveness and stimulate job creation.

The move drew concerns from many Nigerians, who argued that increasing foreign loans had not translated into better living conditions.

The World Bank said its new partnership framework builds on the country’s recent macroeconomic reforms, which it believes have strengthened economic growth, improved government revenue, increased external reserves and boosted investor confidence.

As part of the programme, the bank plans to help expand electricity access to 32 million Nigerians, provide broadband connectivity to 58 million people, improve health and nutrition services for 40 million citizens and support about 9.5 million farmers.

The framework also targets improvements in human capital development, agricultural productivity, energy supply and digital infrastructure.

Mathew Verghis, country director for Nigeria,  World Bank, said the institution’s support would focus on ensuring that recent economic reforms deliver tangible benefits for Nigerians.

“Our new Country Partnership Framework provides the strategy for how the World Bank Group will support Nigeria over the coming years, with a strong focus on helping to create more and better jobs, particularly by enabling private sector-led growth.

“The recent macroeconomic gains have been critical to help stabilise the economy. Translating improved macroeconomic conditions into better living standards will require addressing the structural constraints to spur private sector investment and job creation,” he said.

The bank said the $1.25 billion Development Policy Financing operation is expected to back reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s business environment and strengthening long-term economic growth.

According to the statement, the planned reforms include expanding capital markets, updating regulations for the digital economy and e-governance, accelerating electricity sector reforms, reducing trade barriers in line with Nigeria’s commitments under the Economic Community of West African States and the African Continental Free Trade Area, improving access to quality agricultural seeds and increasing domestic revenue generation.

“The NAIJA DPF operation, which amounts to $1.25bn, supports a set of Government reforms to strengthen the foundations for growth and competitiveness.

“These include deepening capital markets, modernising the regulatory framework for the digital economy and e-governance, advancing power sector reforms to accelerate electrification, lowering trade barriers in line with Nigeria’s ECOWAS and AfCFTA commitments to help ease price pressures, improving access to quality agricultural seeds, and strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation.”

Dahlia Khalifa,divisional director for Nigeria, International Finance Corporation, said ongoing reforms had positioned the country to attract more private sector investment.

“Nigeria’s long-term growth potential will be shaped by the economy’s ability to attract investment, raise productivity, and unleash private sector job creation, building on the capital of a rapidly growing population,” she said.

Also speaking, Ed Mountfield, vice-president and chief financial officer, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency,  said although Nigeria’s reforms had created opportunities for investors, risks remained.

“Nigeria’s reform progress is creating important opportunities for private investment, but risks remain for investors. MIGA’s role is to help manage these risks—through guarantees and political risk insurance—so that investors can step in with confidence,” he said.

The newly approved facility is the second-largest single World Bank loan secured by Nigeria since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, behind the $1.5 billion Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation Development Policy Financing approved in June 2024.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has admitted seven new companies into its Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP), expanding the number of digital asset firms operating under its regulatory sandbox as Nigeria continues efforts to formalise oversight of the sector.

The Commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the newly admitted firms would receive Approval-in-Principle (AIP), allowing them to operate within the defined scope of the programme, subject to regulatory and supervisory conditions.

The seven companies are Bitbarter Technologies Limited, Luno Fintech Nigeria Limited, GetEquity Limited, Koinkoin Global Network Limited, Wrapped CBDC Ltd, Trovotech Ltd, and Blockvault Custodian Ltd.

The latest approval follows the SEC’s admission of Quidax and Busha into its regulatory framework in August 2024, as the Commission continues efforts to formalise oversight of Nigeria’s digital asset industry.

According to the SEC, the Approval-in-Principle confirms that each company has satisfied the admission requirements for participation in the programme.

However, the regulator stressed that the approval does not amount to a final operating licence.

“An Approval-in-Principle confirms that an entity has satisfied the Commission’s admission requirements for the Programme. Please note that it is not a final licence and remains conditional on the entity’s continued compliance with all applicable regulatory, operational, and supervisory obligations,” the Commission said.

The SEC added that the latest admissions reflect its commitment to promoting responsible innovation while protecting investors and preserving market integrity.

Announcing the development in a separate statement, one of the approved companies, Luno, said the approval comes after an extensive engagement process with the SEC and marks another step in its regulatory journey in Nigeria.

The company, which began operations in Nigeria in 2015, said the approval provides a clearer regulatory pathway as it expands its operations in the country.

Luno Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Ayotunde Alabi, described the approval as an important milestone for the business.

“This is an important milestone for Luno Nigeria and a strong validation of our commitment to building responsibly in one of Africa’s most important cryptocurrency markets,” Alabi said.

He added that the approval would strengthen the company’s engagement with customers and institutional partners while supporting its expansion into business-to-business (B2B) services.

Luno said regulatory clarity has become increasingly important as more financial institutions, fintechs, payment providers, asset managers, and corporate organisations explore digital asset services.

According to the company, it intends to expand offerings for institutional clients, including digital asset infrastructure, stablecoin applications, treasury solutions, and crypto-as-a-service products.

The Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme is the SEC’s regulatory sandbox designed to fast-track the onboarding of digital asset service providers and other investment service providers while allowing the Commission to supervise their operations under controlled conditions.

The framework enables the regulator to assess emerging technologies and business models while ensuring investor protection and market integrity before granting full operational licences.

The initiative forms part of the SEC’s broader efforts to establish a structured regulatory framework for virtual asset service providers in Nigeria following years of uncertainty surrounding the sector.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest cryptocurrency markets, with growing adoption by retail users despite periods of regulatory uncertainty.