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Fintech License Costs and Processing Time in Nigeria
In 2020, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced a new set of rules that affected fintech companies operating under a broad payment service license. The CBN released a circular stating that it had approved new license categorizations for payment systems. These new rules aimed to streamline fintech startups according to their capabilities and limitations, effectively assigning them to specific fields of operation. As a result, four new groups were established: switching and processing payment service providers, payment service providers involved in mobile money (MMOs), payment service providers involved in payment solutions (PSSs), and payment service providers under the regulatory sandbox.
What Does a Payment Service Bank License Allow in Nigeria?
According to the regulations set forth by the Nigerian central bank, subsidiaries of mobile network operators (telcos), mobile money operators, retail chains (supermarkets), and banking agents are eligible to apply for the PSB license, provided they meet specific requirements. These prerequisites include a capital base of 5 billion naira ($12 million) and a combined application and license fee amounting to 2.5 million naira ($6,400), which are non-refundable.
The issuance of these new banking licenses to Nigeria’s leading telcos follows the release of updated guidelines for the licensing and regulation of payment service banks by the CBN on August 27, 2020.
Structuring a Fintech Holding Company in Nigeria: Key Steps to Comply with CBN’s New Rules
The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a series of new guidelines to govern how a holder of a fintech license in Nigeria may combine it with other types of fintech licenses in a holding company structure.
Under the new rules, termed “GUIDELINES FOR LICENSING AND REGULATION OF PAYMENTS SERVICE HOLDING COMPANIES IN NIGERIA”, companies that wish to operate under more than one license category must establish a Payments Service Holding Company (PSHC) with clearly defined subsidiaries.
Dubai Crypto License: A Guide for African Startups to Obtain the New Law-Compliant Permit
As a part of the United Arab Emirates, the emirate of Dubai has added a new dimension to its appeal. A new law has been passed to make it easier for entrepreneurs to obtain crypto license s, in addition to its reputation as a tax haven. As the global financial system strives to give credibility to virtual assets, this is a deal breaker for everyone. The new Law No. (4) of 2022 Regulating Virtual Assets in the Emirate of Dubai was published in Dubai’s Official Legal Gazette on March 11, 2022, and took effect immediately. Below, we explore how African startups can obtain a crypto license under the new legal regime in Dubai.
What Does The Law Provide?
For the first time, the law has set up a public corporation called the “Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.” This public corporation, which is linked to the Dubai World Trade Center Authority, is in charge of developing regulations, rules, and standards for regulating, supervising, and overseeing Virtual Asset Platforms, Virtual Asset Service Providers, and all other Virtual Asset-related issues.
