Nigeria, Binance in early-stage talks for crypto-friendly economic zone

cointelegraph.com:

The Nigerian government has held a preliminary meeting with crypto exchange Binance to potentially establish a special economic zone aimed at supporting crypto and blockchain-related businesses.

According to a Sept. 2 post from the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), the authority has held preliminary talks with Binance and technology infrastructure company Talent City to discuss the proposed digital city, referred to as a “Virtual Free Zone.”

NEPZA managing director Adesoji Adesugba said the proposed zone will be a first in West Africa and act similar to Dubai’s virtual zones, which are designed to provide crypto-friendly laws, regulations, and tax incentives for crypto businesses.

Professor Adesoji Adesugba (NEPZA MD/CEO), Sameera Kimatrai (Binance Senior Legal Counsel), Luqman Edu (CEO Talent City), Sikiru Lawal (NEPZA Director). pic.twitter.com/73scHU4hYE

Nigeria has one of the highest rates of cryptocurrency adoption worldwide, with over 22 million crypto owners according to Triple A.

Adesugba said the zone would help develop Nigeria’s digital economy and “widen employment opportunities” for Nigerian citizens, stating:

The early-stage plans were discussed on Friday during a meeting between Adesugba, Binance Executive Director Nadeem Ladki, Talent City CEO Luqman Edu, and NEPZA director Sikiru Lawal in Dubai.

Adesugba added that the move would be part of Nigeria's economic development agenda, with the vision to further drive crypto adoption in the West African region.

"We seek to break new grounds to widen economic opportunities for our citizens in line with the mandate of the Authority, the directive of the Honorable Minister and the economic development agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

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