Bitcoin
Don’t Trade Crypto, Opay, PalmPay, Others Warn Customers
Nigerian fintech companies have warned their customers against trading cryptocurrencies or any virtual currency on their apps, threatening to block any accounts found involved in such activities.
At least four fintechs – Opay, Moniepoint, PalmPay and Paga – communicated this development to their customers on Friday.
Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria blocked major fintech companies such as Kuda, Opay, PalmPay and Moniepoint from taking on new customers.
The CBN’s move was linked to an ongoing audit of fintechs’ Know Your Customer process, which has come under scrutiny in recent months due to concerns surrounding money laundering and terrorist financing.
Prior to the CBN directive, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had obtained a court order to freeze at least 1,146 bank accounts owned by various individuals and companies allegedly involved in illegal foreign exchange transactions.
In a notice released on Friday, OPay said it would take strict action against customers who violate its policy, which aligns with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s stance on cryptocurrency trading.
“In compliance with the CBN directive, please note that OPay prohibits any cryptocurrency and all virtual currency trading. Any account involved in such activities will be closed and customer information will be shared with regulatory authorities.
“Please ensure that your account does not involve any cryptocurrency or any other virtual currency transactions,” the fintech company warned.
In a similar move, Paga, a fintech company that has processed transactions worth US$32 billion in 15 years of operation, said in an email to its customers: “As a Paga account holder, please ensure that your account is not used for cryptography and virtual transactions. monetary transactions. Paga accounts that violate this regulation will be blocked.”
PalmPay, another major player in an emailed statement, said: “We strongly advise using your PalmPay account for transactions involving cryptocurrencies or any other virtual assets. Please be advised that failure to comply with these regulations may result in the suspension of your account.
On Thursday in Lagos, Moniepoint founder and CEO Tosin Eniolorunda called on peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency participants to suspend their activities, citing the financial sector’s ban on such transactions.