Roqqu, a Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange, has partnered with Ondo Finance, a US-based tokenised asset manager, to offer blockchain-based versions of US stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to retail investors.
- +Nigeria’s Roqqu joins race to bring tokenised US stocks to retail investors
The product is expected to launch at the end of June, according to Roqqu.
The product is expected to launch at the end of June, according to Roqqu. For Nigerian retail investors, the product offers access to US stocks without going through traditional brokers.
“We have set the end of June as the launch date; we’re looking at June 29 to roll this product out so it can be available to all users,” Emmanuel Peter, Roqqu’s head of trading and markets, told TechCabal in an interview. “We’re in the final phase of testing and ensuring it meets the standards required for public use.”
The move underscores a growing shift towards tokenisation in Nigeria’s digital asset sector. Several crypto platforms, including Luno Nigeria, the subsidiary of the UK-based exchange, and Blockchain.com, introduced tokenised stocks in 2025 as they race to bring traditional financial assets onto blockchain networks.
The partnership also marks Ondo Finance’s first direct collaboration with a Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange. The company previously integrated with Blockchain.com in October 2025, extending access to its tokenised stocks and ETFs across more than 100 markets where it operates, including Nigeria.
Tokenised stocks allow investors to buy exposure to shares of publicly traded companies through digital tokens. They are typically backed one-for-one by the underlying shares held by a custodian, but can be traded and transferred using blockchain technology. Tokenised stocks enable trades to settle faster, even outside of traditional market hours.
Ondo Finance is one of the world’s largest issuers of tokenised real-world assets, with about $2.72 billion worth of tokenised assets on its platform, according to data from US-based tracking platform RWA.xyz. Over 18,000 users currently hold tokenised assets issued by Ondo Finance, including dollar-yield products, stocks, and ETFs.
For investors in markets such as Nigeria, where access to foreign securities can be restricted by geography, regulation and foreign exchange (FX) constraints, these companies are pitching tokenised assets as a simpler route into global markets.
“Before now, access to the world’s best financial products has been limited by geography, infrastructure and regulation; tokenisation is changing that,” Benjamin Enomor, chief executive officer of Roqqu, said. “We have entered a new era where financial assets can move with the speed of the Internet, settle around the clock, and become more accessible to investors globally.”
Yet, the industry’s emphasis on faster settlement comes as traditional exchanges are also modernising their post-trade infrastructure.
Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has shortened the capital market settlement cycle twice in the past seven months, moving from T+3 to T+2 in November 2025 and, from June 1, to T+1, allowing equity trades to be completed one business day after execution.
While the initial rollout will focus on US equities, Peter said the company ultimately hopes to support tokenised assets issued across African markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, subject to regulatory approval.
The global scale of tokenisation is gaining momentum. Over $360 billion worth of real-world assets have now been tokenised on blockchain networks, including stocks, asset-backed credit, and real estate, according to data from RWA.xyz.
For crypto firms, the next challenge is extending that growth beyond developed markets and bringing blockchain-based versions of traditional financial assets to a wider pool of investors.
