The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) opens applications for the second cohort of its Regulatory Sandbox Programme, expanding testing opportunities for new financial services. The programme now includes specific tracks for virtual assets as well as data-enabled financial services, allowing selected innovators to trial products in a controlled regulatory environment.
According to reporting from Vanguard and The Punch, applications open immediately and the CBN sets a deadline of August 31, 2026. Both outlets describe the initiative as part of the CBN’s broader approach to deepen fintech regulation by bringing emerging areas—such as crypto-related or virtual asset offerings and data-driven finance—under a structured testing framework. While the articles use different phrasing, they align on the core details: the start of applications for Cohort 2, the added thematic tracks, and the timetable for submissions.
Overall, the coverage focuses on what the CBN is allowing participants to test and the process timeline for joining the next sandbox phase, rather than on any changes to eligibility criteria or outcomes from earlier cohorts.
