Blockchain.com has gained conditional admission to the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission's Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme, giving the exchange and wallet provider an Approval-in-Principle to test operations under direct oversight rather than a full operating license. The company said on Aug. 18, 2026 that the move is part of its Africa expansion, but it remains subject to SEC conditions including a fidelity bond equal to at least 25% of shareholder funds, a physical office in Nigeria, a resident chief executive and registration with Nigeria's Financial Intelligence Unit while officials assess anti-money-laundering and investor-protection controls. Blockchain.com joined Yellow Card Financial Limited and Pisi Payments Solution Limited in the latest ARIP batch as Nigeria broadens the programme for virtual asset service providers and other fintech firms after years of regulatory friction. The admission adds to Blockchain.com's 2026 regulatory milestones, including UK Financial Conduct Authority registration under BC Operations and a reported confidential U.S. SEC filing for a potential IPO at about a $7 billion valuation, while broader Nigerian expansion still depends on full SEC registration beyond the sandbox.