Introduction As a Nigerian I've seen firsthand how we're always late to new technologies. From the early days of the internet to mobile apps and even digital banking. We are are known for been too cautious when it comes to technological advancements. Sometimes, we're held back by poor infrastructure, unclear policies and other times, the fear of the unknown.
But with Bitcoin, the story is different, absolutely different. Although Nigerians are somehow late comers in Bitcoin but we have grown even more than some early adopters. I can vividly remember when Central Bank banned Nigerian banks from supporting crypto back in 2021, most people thought Nigerians would quietly step back. Instead, we leaned in harder. We deviced every available measure we could just to remain in the crypto space and continue our engagements in Bitcoin amid the restriction.
And now in 2025, Nigeria isn't just participating in global Bitcoin conversation, we are helping lead it as one of the top ranking nations in Bitcoin and crypto adoption. Below are graphics showing Nigeria's position in Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index of 2024.

Source...In this thread, I'm going to discuss Bitcoin as it relates Nigerians, the uses, challenges, possible solutions and future projections.
Please ride with me.
Ways Nigerians use Bitcoin- As A Store Of Value
- As An Alternative To Traditional Banking
- As A Peer-To-Peer Trading
- As A Payment Gate
- As E-commerce
- As A Means of Avoiding Banking Limits & Restrictions
As A Store Of ValueOne of the major reasons many Nigerians today use Bitcoin (myself included) is as a store of value. Over the years, naira has been depreciating which makes it a risky decision for Nigerians to use it as a reliable long term store of value . For some people, converting their money to US dollars is the preferred option, not knowing that USD is also a fiat that has its own shortcomings, although far better than naira. We know Bitcoin isn't all all perfect and that's because it's a volatile asset, but over the years, it has proven to be more reliable than the naira as a store of Value.
As An Alternative To Traditional BankingMany Nigerians have lost faith in the traditional banking system. On different occasions, I've seen Nigerians vent on different social media platforms in their pursuit for justice after losing their hard earned money they kept in their Nigerian bank accounts to untraceable or fraudulent accounts. Some other times, their accounts are unjustly frozen for simply protesting against some governmental policies that too harsh to the people of this country.
Bitcoin offers solutions to all of these problems and that's why Nigerians especially the younger generation prefers to use Bitcoin as an alternative banking option(self-banking). Bitcoin to a lot of us is a modern-day piggy bank that isn't losing value everyday like the naira.
As A Peer-To-Peer Trading If you are a Nigerian living in the country and uses Bitcoin, it's almost certain that you've had to go the P2P route at some point but in many cases, it's one of our regular ways of transacting with Bitcoin especially with all the restrictions from CBN. After banks stopped processing crypto transactions directly, P2P became our safe haven and underground lifeline. Platforms like Binance, Bybit, Paxful and even some local telegram and WhatsApp groups really kept things going for us through the provision of P2P trading.
Some people have even turned P2P into a their main hustle as they buy low and sell high and continue to repeat. I know one guy who literally makes a living by flipping crypto through P2P trades and over time, he's built trust as people now send him money with full confidence of not getting scammed.
As A Payment Gate Bitcoin has quietly become the PayPal and CashApp of many Nigerians. Wether it's receiving money from abroad or sending funds out, Bitcoin is how we bypass all the headaches that comes with the traditional banking system. If you have ever tried to get paid from outside Nigeria, you'll agree with me that it can be frustrating most times. PayPal and it's likes doesn't work properly here, international transfers are very expensive and most fintech apps either block Nigerians from using them or come with crazy limitations. Bitcoin is fast, direct as I don't need any middleman or will I get my account frozen for making a crypto transaction.
As E-commerce Some Nigerian businesses have incorporated Bitcoin in their websites for seamless transactions. Bitcoin is no longer just an asset or a payment tool, it's a business enabler in Nigeria. It's now helping people run online stores and orders goods across borders.
As A Means of Avoiding Banking Limits & Restrictions Beating strict banking limits is another big reason Nigerians are using Bitcoin. Local banks as we all know do have daily caps on how much you can send or receive especially for international transactions. For people doing business, freelancing or even trying to send money to their families abroad, this can be a big issue. But with Bitcoin, there's no limit, no delays, no bank restrictions as you have the absolute freedom to decide the maximum or minimum to send or receive. To a lot of Nigerians, the freedom to fully determine their transactional limits in a system that controls the financial excesses of the citizens is a big flex.
Challenges and Possible Solutions - Scams, Ponzi Schemes & Fake Investment Platforms
- Volatility and Price Fluctuations
- Limited Access To Electricity & Internet
- Security Risks
- Financial and Digital Illiteracy
- Governmental Restrictions & Unclear Regulations
- The "Get-Rich-Quick" Mentality Around Bitcoin
Scams, Ponzi Schemes & Fake Investment PlatformsScams and ponzi schemes are one of the discouraging factors that has limited a lot of Nigerians from embracing Bitcoin. What's more challenging about this is that when some Nigerians finally decide to try using Bitcoin, they unfortunately end up getting caught up in fake investment platforms that promise quick returns. In many occasions, we've seen many Nigerians who after being introduced to Bitcoin with little understanding of how it actually works, decides to invest and end up in the hands of scammers who introduce fake investment platforms to them. They end up getting scammed of their hard-earned money due to their lack of proper knowledge of Bitcoin and then walk away thinking BTC itself is a scam.
It doesn't help that that scammers constantly target their victims using the term "Bitcoin" or "crypto" to make their fake schemes sound legit. So instead of seeing Bitcoin as a tool for financial freedom, many Nigerians now refer to it as something shady or dangerous, not because of Bitcoin itself but because of how people have abused the name.
Possible SolutionThe key solution to this challenge is real education. We need to keep teaching Nigerians that Bitcoin itself isn't a scam rather it is the fake platforms using its name that are the problems. Forum members can help in spreading this real message of truth (sensitization) about Bitcoin to the ignorant Nigerians out there. Remember, the more people understand the difference, the safer the space becomes for everyone in the crypto space
Volatility and Price FluctuationsOne thing I know that scares a lot of Nigerians away from Bitcoin is the crazy price swings. Today it's up, tomorrow it crashes without warning. For Nigerians who are just trying to save or do business, this kind of instability feels risky. I've heard people say "I can't put my money in something that can lose value overnight" and I totally understand their plight. Not everyone want to wake up to see 30% of their savings gone because of market dips. For small business owners or salary and earners, that kind of uncertainty is hard to manage.
Possible SolutionFrom the creation of Bitcoin till date, if you sum up the percentage of negative volatility and positive volatility, you'll understand that the positive volatility is significantly higher than negative volatility. This is a justification that when you invest in Bitcoin for long-term purposes, you're definitely going to end up on the positive radar. If you're to invest in Bitcoin, you should at least be able to hold up to four years which is the span for Bitcoin cycle.
For day traders, you can use stable coins as a hedge till when the market is at a good entry point for you to return.
Limited Access To Electricity & InternetSince Bitcoin is operated digitally, you need power to do even the simplest things. From sending BTC, to checking your wallet and receiving Bitcoin, power and internet are necessities. In Nigeria we know that the power supply is very unreliable and that's a big challenge. Again, in Nigeria, the access to stable internet connection is poor especially in rural areas making it difficult for Nigerians to engage in Bitcoin activities.
Possible Solution As a Nigerian Bitcoiner, consider electricity and internet availability as one of your major priorities when scouting for a residential place. For steady power, you can facilitate it by exploring renewable energy like installing solar generated power. Also, for you to always be ahead when it comes to internet issues, having alternative sim cards from different network providers like MTN, Glo and Airtel is another smart way to stay locked in to stable internet.
Security RisksAnother serious challenge we face in Nigeria when using Bitcoin is security both digital and physical. On the digital side, people still fall victim to phishing scams, fake wallet apps and hackers who steal their private keys. Some even screenshot or write down their seed phrases carelessly making it easy for anyone with access to their phones or smart devices to wipe their wallets clean.
Then there's the physical side of things. Because Bitcoin isn't stored in banks,some people believe that you're walking around with millions in your phone. There's been reports of people getting robbed or even forced at gunpoint to transfer their crypto assets. It's sad but very real.
Possible SolutionUse secure wallets, be privacy conscious and develop a good knowledge of self-custody. Secondly, do not expose your Bitcoin activities to untrusted people both physically or online because revealing such personal details about you to strangers will likely leave you at risk of being targeted by robbers.
Financial and Digital IlliteracyOne of the biggest challenges we're facing in Nigeria when it comes to Bitcoin is the low level of financial and digital literacy. A lot of Nigerians still don't understand how Bitcoin works or even how basic basic digital wallets operate. You'll hear things like "I no wan lose my money ooh" or ,"Bitcoin na scam", not because they've done any research about Bitcoin but because someone around them told them that or they've probably seen people get scammed due to lack of proper knowledge about Bitcoin.
Possible SolutionEmbracing financial and digital education as a nation will be the easiest way for Nigerians to curb this challenge. As a country, we're known for promoting a conventional education that's not providing solution to some of our present and future challenges in our schools but investing in financial and digital education will be be bold step to addressing that issue. Someone who's financially and digitally literate will easily understand the importance of investing in a digital asset like Bitcoin.
Governmental Restrictions & Unclear RegulationsOne of the biggest issues we face in Nigeria when it comes to Bitcoin is the confusing and inconsistent stance of the government and regulators. Over the years, the government have been going back and forth with their regulatory policies. One moment, they're cracking down on Bitcoiners other moment, they're talking about embracing blockchain. This acts of the government leaves many of us unsure wether we are breaking a rule r just trying to survive financially. Till date, there's no clear legal framework for crypto activities in Nigeria. Even the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Central Bank (CBN) don't always agree with their respective policies and that do send mixed signals to Bitcoin users in Nigeria.
Possible Solution Until the Nigeria government creates clear policies, we a Bitcoin users need to stay informed and more smart with our crypto-related decisions. Avoiding crypto-related keywords in our transactional remarks when transacting also keeps us safe from being accused of violating the unclear policies. Another way to stay safe is to use decentralized wallets.
The "Get-Rich-Quick" Mentality Around Bitcoin Another big challenge we face in Nigeria is the "get-rich-quick" mindset many Nigerians have toward Bitcoin. A lot of us still believe it's a magic button that one can start today and become rich by next week. So when they finally jump in and face the reality of volatility like market dips or price crashes, they panic, quit and start telling others how how Bitcoin made them lose money.
The truth is Bitcoin was never meant to be lottery ticket. It is not MMM nor is it a money-doubling platform. Bitcoin is a long-term decentralized financial system. Those who come in expecting over-night riches often get disappointed because they don't understand the market especially the volatility.
Possible SolutionWhat I think is needed here is a mindset shift. People must learn that Bitcoin is not a short cut to wealth rather it's a tool and like any tool, you need knowledge and patience to use it well. The more we share real stories and honest experiences, the more we help others see Bitcoin for what it truly is and that's — it's not a quick money but smart money.
Future Projections Of Bitcoin in Nigeria - Government Adoption and Regulations
- Integration Of Bitcoin Into Local Fintech Platforms
- Mass Bitcoin Education
- Boom Of Bitcoin-Powered Businesses And Start-ups
- Earning Through Bitcoin knowledge
Government Adoption and Regulations If there's one thing we know about the Nigeria Government, it's that they hardly want to be left out behind when Western World moves, even if they come late to the party. That that's why I strongly believe that in the nearest future, Nigeria may adopt a Bitcoin Reserve Strategy like the US and few other countries are already doing.
The same government that once restricted crypto could eventually invest in Bitcoin as a national hedge especially as more global powers begin holding BTC as part of their reserve asset. To match that, they'll also have no chance but to create clear and supportive regulations. We may start seeing laws that officially recognize Bitcoin, allow business to operate openly in the space using Bitcoin and even let banks offer crypto services under tight compliance.
Integration Of Bitcoin Into Local Fintech Platforms I think this is already showing small signs but I believe it's only a matter of time before Bitcoin gets fully integrated into popular Nigerian Fintech apps or even commercial bank apps. Once regulation becomes clear these platforms will not want to be left behind especially since many of them already deal with digital wallets and cross-border transactions.
When this happens, buying, selling or even saving in Bitcoin could become as easy as airtime recharge. This i think will open up access to millions of everyday users who do not want to deal with exchanges that are complex to users.
Mass Bitcoin Education If only Bitcoin is really going mainstream in Nigeria, then mass education has to come in and I strongly believe it will. In the future, we could start seeing Bitcoin and basic crypto knowledge taught in schools, NYSC orientation camps or even government digital programs.
Even if the Nigeria government fails to take the lead, private institutions, communities and individuals will definitely push the education forward just like we're already seeing in tech and digital skills in recent years.
Boom Of Bitcoin-Powered Businesses And Start-ups One thing I strongly believe is that as Bitcoin becomes more accepted in Nigeria, we will start seeing a wave of new businesses and start-ups built around it. I'm talking about things like crypto payroll system, Bitcoin savings apps and even small shops accepting Bitcoin directly.
The Bitcoin space will open up real opportunities especially for young Nigerians who are already tech-savvy. It'll not just be about trading anymore rather, it'll become a full economy of its own with services and platforms tailored to our own local needs.
Earning Through Bitcoin knowledge If you check the percentage of people around you who truly understand Bitcoin, you'll see that it's very low. That's why it's important to not just chase money in the forum but to take time to learn the technicalities of Bitcoin so you'll stand in a strong position to earn from your knowledge when the time comes.
In the near future, those who have taken time to really understand the technical side of Bitcoin will be in high demand. Whether it's teaching, consulting or offering expert services, people will be very willing to pay for true knowledge of Bitcoin. That's why learning now is an investment for the future.
Conclusion In this thread, I have covered the Bitcoin uses, challenges and possible solutions and lastly the projections. I believe, those of us that are sceptical or are using it the wrong way will make necessary amend. Yes, the road isn't smooth, the challenges are real but so is our resilience. And as more Nigerians become informed, empowered and intentional, Bitcoin will continue to be a lifeline for those who dare to look beyond the traditional system.