Economy
Bitfinex Targets Emerging Markets to Drive Crypto Adoption
By Adedapo Adesanya
One of the earliest cryptocurrencies in the world, Bitfinex, has said amid a global shift, it will be focusing on emerging markets and exploring new ways to bring financial services to those who need them most.
This was made known by the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Bitfinex, Mr Paolo Ardoino, in a chat with Business Post.
“We believe this year will be focused on greater innovation, more transparency, freedom for everyone not served by traditional technologies and financial systems, and an end to practices that have tarnished our industry and obscured the promise that it holds.
“We will also be focusing on the long-term development of the Bitfinex Securities platform. We believe Security Tokens represent the next generation of capital markets,” he explained.
“By matching the technology of the digital asset industry with clearly defined issuer obligations, investor protection, and regulatory oversight, STOs offer investors and issuers a faster, cheaper, and lower friction way to invest, raise capital, and trade. This sets the stage for an exciting 2023 for both Bitfinex Securities and STO markets more broadly,” he added.
The CTO noted that the company had worked relentlessly to educate customers about the benefits and attributes of Bitcoin and the blockchain while providing a technically superior environment to buy, hold, and sell tokens.
“We believe that Bitcoin provides a technology and a payment solution that meets the need for a fast, efficient, and private service. With no centralized servers and unnecessary intermediaries – and at near zero cost – it enables financial inclusion and financial freedom,” he said.
“We are also inspired by the Bitcoin ethos of decentralization to develop peer-to-peer solutions that enable freedom of speech and are proud to be a major shareholder in Holepunch, which has pioneered distributed systems.
“We strongly believe that mass acceptance of crypto is most likely to occur because of its permissionless features and ability to create a more open and equitable world. Bitfinex was born at the dawn of the Bitcoin revolution, and everything we do is focused on creating simple, dependable, and accessible technology that promotes freedom,” he added.
However, he noted that the crypto space has come with many challenges, just as the market continues to evolve.
“Periodically, a new wave of speculation comes accompanied by new cryptocurrencies, which focus more on leveraging trending technologies than necessarily truly understanding them. Part of my role has been to educate and speak about the difference between bitcoin and stablecoins versus other more speculative coins.
“I believe crypto has a lot of potentials to help the unbanked population as long as it’s understood as a freedom tool rather than a quick rich scheme. Myself, and everyone at Bitfinex, is driven by the ethos of Financial Freedom, and we take on the challenge to educate the whole community about this,” he said.
To this end, Mr Ardoino said Bitfinex is at the forefront of promoting cryptocurrency adoption.
“In many Emerging Markets, particularly where there is currency volatility, Bitcoin provides a store of value, a form of remittance, and a gateway to financial freedom,” he added that there are 2 billion people who do not have a bank account because they are too poor and the banks do not want the costs of maintaining those accounts.
To this end, “With Bitcoin, it can be stored for free on the blockchain and can be sent around the world at zero or very low costs. We are also committed to providing a wide range of applications that enable the use of Bitcoin beyond just a savings tool.
“The impending launch of the Volcano Token will set another precedent demonstrating how emerging markets can use Bitcoin to tap access to capital and create a whole new economy,” Mr Ardoino said.
By Dipo Olowookere
ASO Savings and Loans Plc has been delisted from the daily official list of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
This action followed the revocation of the operating licence of the company by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in December 2025.
In a circular on behalf of the NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) by Ugochi Eke, it was disclosed that the effective date of the delisting is today, Friday, January 16, 2026.
Already, the company has been notified of this development, according to the notice obtained by Business Post.
Before ASO Savings lost its operating licence, it had failed to meet some post-listing requirements, a part of the disclosure from the NGX RegCo stated.
“The board of NGX Regulation Limited via its decision dated January 1, 2026, approved that the step below should be taken pursuant to the process for regulatory delisting of issuers.
“The board has approved the delisting of ASO Savings and Loans Plc from the Nigerian Exchange Limited’s daily official list effective January 16, 2026.
“ASO Savings is hereby notified of this enforcement action and is advised to direct any communication in respect of the foregoing to [email protected].
“NGX RegCo was engaging the listed entity, concerning its outstanding post-listing obligations. However, due to the revocation of the operating license of ASO Savings by its primary regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) effective December 16, 2025; NGX RegCo will delist the entity from the daily official list effective January 16, 2026.
“In view of the foregoing, NGX RegCo has proceeded with publishing the name of the Company in the national dailies.
“The company has been duly notified of this enforcement action, and this publication serves as notification to the investing public, particularly shareholders of the company and investors in the Nigerian capital market,” the statement read.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, has issued a stern warning to oil and gas investors that petroleum licences in Nigeria are strictly for active development, not asset hoarding or speculative holding, declaring that operators must drill or risk losing their rights.
He made this admonition while delivering his message at the 2025 Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Licensing Bid Round Conference in Lagos, where he outlined the government’s hardline stance on asset utilisation and investor accountability.
“The oil assets in portfolio are not mere symbols or souvenirs,” Mr Lokpobiri said, adding that, “Holders of licences are obligated to drill, drill and drill for a shared benefit for the Government, Nigerians and the operators.”
He stressed that the administration is determined to ensure petroleum assets are translated into tangible economic value, noting that licences are time-bound rights granted solely for productive use.
“These assets belong to the Federal Government, and licences are granted strictly for a defined period for productive use, not passive ownership,” the minister said. “Our licensing framework is designed to eliminate speculation and ensure that only serious, capable investors participate.”
Mr Lokpobiri also issued a strong caution to bidders seeking to participate in the 2025 licensing round, urging them to fully understand the process and obligations before submitting bids.
“As prospects take part in this bid round, a clear understanding of the modus operandi guiding the process is essential,” he said, recalling previous bid rounds where some winners attempted to reverse their commitments.
“Past experiences have shown instances where some winning bidders sought refunds based on unmet expectations or perceived asset limitations,” Lokpobiri stated. “Such actions are untenable, as there is no provision in law for the refund of a bid already won.”
According to him, the conference was convened to remove ambiguity and protect the integrity of the licensing system, stressing that the government would strictly enforce all contractual obligations arising from the process.
“This conference serves to provide clarity upfront,” he said. “Participants must be fully informed, deliberate and committed, as the Government will uphold the sanctity of the process and enforce all obligations.”
The minister’s remarks reinforce the Federal Government’s broader push to accelerate upstream development, boost production and attract only technically and financially capable investors into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, amid renewed licensing activity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
By Dipo Olowookere
The suspension earlier placed on Premier Paints Plc, preventing investors from buying and selling its stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, has now been lifted.
The embargo was removed on Wednesday, a notice from the stock exchange, seen by Business Post, disclosed.
Almost four years ago, Premier Paints was suspended from the bourse due to the inability of its board to file the company’s financial results.
The NGX had on July 1, 2022, informed the investing community it had prohibited the trading of the organisation’s securities “in line with the provisions of Rule 3.1: Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing (Default Filing Rules).
The part of the rules provides that: “If an Issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will; a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period, b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities, and c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.”
In the latest disclosure dated Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and signed by the Head of Issuer Regulation Department of the NGX, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, it was revealed that Premier Paints has now done the needful.
“The company has now filed all outstanding financial statements to Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“In view of the company’s submission of its outstanding financial statements, and pursuant to Rule 3.3 of the Default Filing Rules, which states that; The suspension of trading in the issuer’s securities shall be lifted upon submission of the relevant accounts provided The exchange is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange. The exchange shall thereafter also announce through the medium by which the public and the SEC was initially notified of the suspension, that the suspension has been lifted, trading license holders and the investing public are hereby notified that the suspension placed on trading on the shares of Premier Paints Plc was lifted (on) Wednesday, January 14, 2026,” the circular stated.
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