Bitcoin
The State of Bitcoin in Nigeria
Without a doubt, the rise of bitcoin and its underlying technology blockchain represent a historical technological disruption. While the technology has already found success in economically developed countries, bitcoin is just starting to gain momentum here in Africa. Over the past 2-3 years, we’ve seen growing interest in bitcoin and the technology behind its increase in African countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and in Nigeria.
In this article you will be introduced to the state of bitcoin in Nigeria, the people’s perception of this new technology and how it is being used.
Nigeria’s Bitcoin Ecosystem
The bitcoin ecosystem in Nigeria has been experiencing tremendous growth over the past two years. This is evidenced by the growing number of bitcoin related queries on Google Trends charts as well as increasing bitcoin trading volumes in the West African nation.
Nigeria is already witnessing the birth of new startups, initiatives, local meet-ups and social groups with the aim of educating interested parties about the fundamentals of bitcoin and blockchain technology as well as promoting its benefits. Some of this startups and initiatives include CDIN, PEX Bank, Cryptogene, Cryptomart, NGExchanger, and Nairaex. Additionally, top bitcoin companies such as Luno and ICE3X are already exploring the Nigeria market.
Cryptographic Development Initiative Nigeria (CDIN)
The Cryptographic Development Initiative in Nigeria (CDIN) is one of the blockchain focused groups that has successfully positioned itself as a pacesetter in this new industry.
The CDIN is a non-governmental organisation and platform that encourages the learning and practice of cryptography amongst relevant stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. It is subdivided into three groups: Crypto Nigeria, Blockchain Nigeria, and Nigeria Blockchain Alliance (NBA).
The CDIN has been able to deliver on some of its promises from educating the masses on the cryptocurrency. Through its Crypto-Nigeria arm, local meet ups have been arranged in order to tackle criminal activities by collaborating with government agencies and relevant bodies in fighting against crypto-related crimes, such as HYIP and Ponzi schemes that use bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for payment.
Recently, the CDIN announced that the Nigeria government is willing to offer its support to the initiative. The organisation has announced a partnership with the National Electronic Fraud Forum (NEFF) for the Blockchain Nigeria 2017 conference. NEFF’s chairman, who’s also the director of banking and payment system of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dipo Fatokun said:
“Please be informed that NEFF is willing to collaborate with CDIN and will assist with technical advice and/or speakers at the […] 2017 conference on Blockchain. Also note that as the collaboration progresses, Neff will also, count on your support.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Stance on Bitcoin
The Central Bank of Nigeria seems to understand the potential that comes from bitcoin and blockchain technology. However, the CBN is concerned about the financial losses that traditional banks will incur as well the growth of bitcoin-related crimes, such as ransomware and pyramid schemes if the technology becomes widely accepted.
Factors slowing down the adoption of digital currency
The CBN issued a circular to banks, similar to a statement released by the Nigeria Securities and Exchange Commission to the public, on January 12, 2017. Both regulatory bodies warned against the usage of digital currencies like bitcoin as it is not a legal tender in the country and any bank or business that would deal or invest in such would do so at their own risk.
Furthermore, in a March 2017 meeting focused on digital currencies organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria, the CBN through its Deputy Director for Banking and Payment Musa Itopa Jimoh reiterated the central bank’s view of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
“The Central bank cannot control or regulate blockchain. Just the same way no one is going to control or regulate the Internet. We don’t own it.”
Mr. Itopa Jimoh further clarifies the CBN’s previous warning that he believed was misunderstood by the public.
“A lot of people misinterpreted it that we wanted to stop bitcoin. We can’t stop bitcoin. Bitcoin is not an invention of 2015 or 2012; it’s not even an invention of 2010. So, how can the Central Bank of Nigeria, not central bank of the world, stop the running and implementation of bitcoin?”
In spite the warnings from the government, the growing interest in bitcoin has refused to slow down. A key reason behind it is the persistent depreciation of the country’s local currency, the naira. Many people are beginning to see bitcoin as a good alternative to hedge their wealth against currency losses.
The remittance market is another major area driving the usage of digital currency. As a cost-effective and borderless payment network, bitcoin and other digital currencies are offering a long-term solution to Nigeria’s large remittance markets’ challenges.
Nigeria’s Bitcoin Startups
Nigeria is also the home to several bitcoin startups with the largest being the country’s leading bitcoin exchange NairaEx.
NairaEx offers a quick and easy way of for Nigerians to purchase the digital currency using credit cards, debit cards, or bank deposits using local currency. There is also BTC.ng, which is a NairaEx run bitcoin publication that aims to close the big gap by educating newbies in Nigeria on everything happening in the bitcoin ecosystem.
Cryptogene is another Nigerian startup, which launched in late 2016 to focus on educating African on the benefits of bitcoin and blockchain technology.
Cryptomart and NGExchanger are two further startups in Nigeria’s bitcoin community while leading African bitcoin exchanges Luno and ICE3X are also exploring the Nigerian market. ICE3X, for example, enables Nigerians to buy bitcoin, litecoin, and ether with the naira.
How Nigerians Are Using Bitcoin
A recent study conducted by leading bitcoin wallet provider Luno reveals a great deal of faith in the future of the digital currency in Nigeria.
57 percent of the respondents believe bitcoin to be the future of money. When asked to state their main reason for buying bitcoin, 28.8 percent used it for investing while 20.3 percent used it for remittance purposes while others used it for trading and speculation purposes. Interestingly, a majority of Nigerians, 45.3 percent, would rather own bitcoin than gold. This is a large number in comparison to the 10.3 percent figure for gold ownership.
Statistics, examples, and ways to legally use cryptocurrency
October 1, 2013, was a turbulent day for San Francisco Public Library. A dozen FBI agents pretending to be usual visitors surrounded a man sitting at one of the tables, took his laptop and put a pair of handcuffs on his hands. That man was Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road – the largest darknet marketplace for drug dealers, killers, and other criminals. The seizure of Ulbricht was supposed to tackle the illegal online trade, but, as the news site DeepDotWeb wrote, the bust was “the best advertising the darknet markets could have hoped for”. The reputation of cryptocurrency also suffers from associations with terrorists, who sometimes use it for their needs. How big is the real scale of the problem? And how many legal ways to use crypto exist? ChangeNOW has dived into the topic – and suggests you an overview of the current state of the problem.
Highlights:
- The drugs trade volume using cryptocurrency is relatively large
- Crypto was a significant reason why a part of drug sales migrated to the web, though stays yet not viable and anonymous enough for dealers (same as for terrorists)
- As efficient use of blockchain technology requires good infrastructure, crypto remains not suitable enough for many terrorist groups
- However, some terrorists are trying to adjust to anonymity threats and hold fundraising in crypto
- Legal ways to use cryptocurrency include dozens and vary from IT services to car rentals
Crypto & Drugs & Rock’n’Roll
The total volume of the online drug market using cryptocurrency is around $1 billion. It is located in the darknet, which provides an attractive, profitable, and mostly secure environment for drug dealers. Cryptocurrency, in turn, allows making payments that are hard to be tracked by authorities. This is how blockchain technology has helped to bring a big part of drug sales online from the streets. And it’s not only about drugs themselves – many legal opioid drugs are illegally sold here, too.
However, cryptocurrency is not always as secure and anonymous as it is thought to be. The information about any transaction ever made stays forever in the blockchain, which makes the system way more transparent than cash payments. This is a significant limitation for using crypto in illegal purposes.
According to the University of Technology Sydney, about 46% of criminal activity of each year is connected to Bitcoin. As for the drug sale itself, trade volumes in crypto keep rising, but the percent of Bitcoin drug transactions out of all transactions goes down. This means Bitcoin is more frequently used for legitimate purposes.
What cryptocurrency is used for drug sales most often? Surprisingly, privacy coins such as Monero are used only for 4% of transactions. Due to its pioneer position, Bitcoin is used in 76% of all deals despite all its anonymity risks.
The main problem for drug dealers using crypto is to turn their income into cash. This move remains complicated and insecure. Most cryptocurrency exchanges have instruments to define whether a transaction is coming from a suspicious source like the darknet. The rise of Monero use in the online drug market will hinder such tracking. However, for the reasons listed above, crypto is unlikely to completely replace regular cash in drug sales in the foreseeable future.
Cryptoterrorism
The views on how much cryptocurrency is used and will be used by terrorists vary widely. While some claim that terrorists have no infrastructure to use it and the methods are not secure enough, others argue that they are learning fast and adjust to crypto rapidly. Let’s see what both sides say.
Not actively using, unclear future
Lack of appropriate infrastructure, inability to use crypto. Most terrorist groups settle in the Middle East region, especially on its remote and war-torn territories. The vast majority of roads and technological infrastructure have been destroyed. In such circumstances, cash remains the most common and convenient way to pay and fundraise. Imagine a gun seller in a Syrian village – does it look like he has a tool to accept Monero?
Anonymity threats. Given the relative transparency of blockchain mentioned above, crypto might remain too unsafe for terrorists. Miners can see any potential terrorist money exchange while checking transactions, and it’s not too hard to see who sends them money. It can change with the rising use rate of privacy coins, but the ability to spend such money remains questionable.
Increased attention to crypto by the authorities. As the number of transactions keeps rising, more regulatory bodies’ attention gets focused on cryptocurrency, which apparently makes terrorists nervous and cautious.
Problems of specific currencies. While top cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin receive much regulatory attention, others remain marginal and unreliable because of a lack of support. Conflicts and uncertainty lower the trust to such cryptocurrencies – yes, even terrorists’ trust.
Using actively now, increasingly in the future
Terrorists seem to be rapidly learning to escape from tracking in blockchain. Several years ago it was easy to find any address or transaction made for a terrorists’ fundraiser. Today they use well organized and finely designed websites, where detailed video tutorials show how to donate money anonymously. Unique Bitcoin addresses and other crypto tricks are used to preserve security. Analysts from intelligence services claim there’s only going to be more such cases. And, of course, privacy coins are a “great opportunity” for terrorists too.
Shift to cryptocurrency is a reaction to economic sanctions. ISIS has lost most of its territory and resources, Hamas has been sanctioned by the West. Having been cut off from all main financial institutes, terrorist groups had to find other pathways for their financial activities – and cryptocurrency appeared to be the best substitute.
There might be difficulties and inconveniences, and the number of terrorists using crypto is yet unknown – but as we can see, digital money in terrorism is reality. Same as in drugs. And this is what cryptocurrency is notorious for, lacking trust among millions of people. The reputation of some of the exchange services only adds to this mistrust – ChangeNOW has carried out a special investigation on how such platforms may cheat their clients. But can you buy anything besides heroin and firearms with your crypto? What about pizza or a concert ticket?
Only Antarctica left
Cryptwerk, a platform monitoring actual use cases of different cryptocurrencies, says there are about 3500 ways to spend Bitcoin and more than 800 for Monero today. They range from music services to car rentals, from buying clothes to hotel booking services, and from sports bets to virtual tours.
Organizations accepting cryptocurrency are located on all continents besides Antarctica (what could be a better place for crypto than a continent without governments and countries though?). Mostly, in the USA and Central Europe. Bitcoin as the largest cryptocurrency is relatively widespread in India and Southeast Asia.
As this is a whole another topic, ChangeNOW will issue a post dedicated to use cases of cryptocurrencies. As it will be more detailed, who knows – maybe you’ll find a pizza right by that you could pay for from your crypto wallet!
This article was contributed by Jeremy from ChangeNow.
Buroka is a new breed of cryptocurrency exchange for Africa! Currently operating in Nigeria, Buroka was designed to fulfill the needs of modern Africans. Buroka allows customers to buy and sell Bitcoin with Naira via Local Transfers and cash deposits at the bank. In this Buroka review, you will learn more about the exchange and how you can use it to buy bitcoin in Nigeria.
How to Buy Bitcoin on Buroka
Step 1: Account Creation
To create an account, visit Buroka.com and hit the “Register” button. This will lead you to a page where you will be asked to fill in your personal information, including your name, email address, and password. Like any other serious exchange, Boruka will ask you for your ID, Proof of Address, and to take a selfie with your ID to eliminate fraud.
Step 2: Fund Your Account
Funding your account on the platform is straightforward. You can deposit either via bank transfer or at any bank branch. Make sure to use a unique reference code given to you by Buroka deposit system.
Step 3: Buying and Selling BTC
Once your deposit has been credited to your account you can immediately buy your Bitcoin. The buying and selling tab is located on the top right corner of the dashboard. There you can input the amount of bitcoin you want to buy. Once you do that, you then click on the “BUY BTC” button.
Step 4: Storing Your BTC
After buying BTC, Buroka provides users with the option of either storing bitcoin on the platform in a BitGo wallet or any other wallet of their choice.
Currently, Buroka only supports bitcoin (BTC). However, the exchange plans to include other cryptocurrencies going forward.
Security
Buroka exchange makes use of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). 2FA provides an extra layer of protection for users. With the 2FA in place, an extra piece of information is needed before login into the platform or making any withdrawals.
In addition, Buroka’s platform is also protected using the latest security technology, including web-socket and API protocols that allow for a fast and secure order processing. Buroka also makes use of a well-updated SSL certificate, which makes it easy to detect a phishing attempt.
To further ensure that clients’ funds are secure, Buroka operates segregated accounts. These accounts are held with trusted banks so that clients can enjoy an extra layer of security provided by the banking system.
Conclusion
Buroka is a relatively new Bitcoin exchange with a well-designed, user-friendly interface. The Bitcoin trading platform provides several deposit options, which is attractive for Nigerian Bitcoin traders, as well as competitive market rates for both buyers and sellers.
If you are looking to buy or sell bitcoin in Nigeria, you can give Buroka a try.
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