Bitcoin Forum

I was trying to access some Bitcoin related websites today for some information about Bitcoin but I was surprised to know that all the IP address of the exchanges including websites like blockchain.com are blocked meaning you can only access them through VPN. Then it struct me that such action by the government of Nigeria is a clear message that they do not permit the use of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in the country even though there have not been clearly written directives enforcing this. Now why am I making this post?

First to warn us that we should be discrete with our Bitcoin transactions so that we will not be seen as using or having Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general. If they notice this, it can lead to freezing of accounts and possibly arrest when they so decide.

Secondly, to encourage us to take privacy seriously to protect our activities as it relates to cryptocurrency. This include what you post on social media which can expose you as Bitcoin and crypto user as a Nigeria.

Finally, to employ self custody which is the right way to go about Bitcoin. Many people seems to have ignored the importance of self custody, so this is a reminder too.

This is not true, I accessed https://www.blockchain.com/ now without VPN, so it is still very much accessible to Nigerians, even https://www.binance.com/en which was at a time inaccessible through my mobile device and I thought it was restricted, I could access it just before dropping this post. Check your network or maybe use a PC,_{Since I am using one to access them right now}

No again, Bitcoin is not banned in nigeria, although traditional banks aren't yet allowed to transact directly with it as directed by CBN.

This is why P2P is the best, you get to sell your bitcoin without them knowing the purpose of the money, provided that there is no indication of crypto in the remarks. Again if you use non-custodial wallet for your transactions, The government would never know about your crypto balance, unless you meddle with a KYC  exchange that shares data with the government.

Abeg which bitcoin related website you try open way no work without VPN. Was it cointelegraph or coingecko? Make una dey verify information before una post because misinformation dey dangerous pass no information at all. Again, bitcoin no dey banned for Nigeria. Government still dey dance skelewu on the subject but one thing I go advise na say make you keep your p2p transactions discreet as much as possible (most people already know not to add any crypto related words on their fiat transaction).

There are no restrictions or ban of cryptocurrency in Nigeria, everyone is free to use cryptocurrency without fear of being questioned by any government authority so far as you did not get involved in any financial crime, nobody will interrogate you for no just reason. The reason why many people are afraid of doing crypto transactions openly is just because they lack the knowledge of the law and most people do not have lawyers to intercede for them when there is an issue.
      Let it be known to you, the government knows about the crypto transactions in the country so whether you include cryptocurrency in your description when performing a p2p transaction or not, they are aware. As long as people do KYC on exchanges, your information can be leaked to the government otherwise that exchange can risk being banned by the government as they did to Binance and Kucoin. Remember that there was a time the Nigerian government demanded for the data of Nigerians who are using Binance for crypto transactions and they refused to give them the information which was also part of the reason why the government banned p2p transactions on their platform till date.
     Cryptocurrency portrays privacy and decentralization so i don't know why someone will choose to come to social media to discuss about their crypto transaction because even if you don't get suspected by the government, but you can risk being harmed by criminals.

Bitcoin is not banned in Nigeria but you cant access Top Tier Crypto Exchanges website without the use of VPN. OP is not referring to mobile app. Yes, all the  mobile app can be accessible but the website is down. I expect you to know this by now.

In some states and cities in Nigeria, you can see some shops that are doing Bitcoin p2p exchange, you can even see some big banner ads on the road displaying Bitcoin or some of the scam coins of a few celebrity, you can see some shops that accepts Bitcoin for payment, nothing is being done to them and that's because there's no specific ban stating that citizens are forbidden from using Bitcoin.
There's even a Nigerian guy they said he has many Bitcoin, I think he is popularly knows as BLord, he is still doing his Bitcoin investment and talks about it, has his account been frozen?

I don't know how true this your post might be but I for like make you just share some of the crypto related websites way you try to access but them no allow you do that we go know if na the main websites or no be em. Even though say our government never come talk officially say Bitcoin dey legal to use for Nigeria, no really mean say them they against am. Them just never give full attentions to crypto currency as them they do other unnecessary things for the country. Make we no even talk reach that side sef because that one no be the main problem we get for Nigeria currently.

Banks never dey allow crypto currency transactions no mean say them dey against am 100% na because if suspicious transactions them dey receive just make them no allow crypto currency transactions. But later on I hope them allow am.
Even now saf, some places they accept crypto currency payments from customers if they won pay for service/goods.

That time government been dey get issues witb exchanges like Binacnce, accessing exchanges through their websites been dey worry sha, I don know about now because all of us don dey use app dey access them. Maybe na wetin the OP dey try talk. Even for that time, CMC and Coingecko been dey open, e no affect them but no be everything dey open sha. Tomorrow I go check if exchanges dey open for normal browser sha... I no fit run am now.

Obuoma there's something I want you to understand when it comes to cryptocurrency in Nigeria and it's law, there’s currently no law in Nigeria that criminalizes owning or trading cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency, so you can trade or invest in cryptocurrency without having issues with government and they can't hold you for commiting a crime or going against any law, however the Central Bank of Nigeria does not recognize cryptocurrencies as legal tender and that those not make it a crime to trade or invest in cryptocurrency, and yes the Central Bank of Nigeria also directed Banks not to accept or trade cryptocurrency with citizens but that still those not make cryptocurrency illegal or a crime in Nigeria.
Where there's no law there's no crime.

I don’t know everything, that’s why I’m asking. Which one is top tier cryptocurrency apps? List them let us know the ones you’re talking about.

are you sure you are a frequent user of the internet in this part of the world? there are at least thousands of Nigerians that openly blog on crypto, create there business around it and have physical location where crypto is being thought and yet the government is not doing anything about it. even without trying out the site you have mentioned, i already know that it is not true that they have restricted Nigerian from accessing a site like blockchain. most of the sites that Nigerians can not access without the use of VPN are so because some fraudulent people have made it so. and for that, it is not just crypto related site. most freelance site do not allow Nigerians access to it and the reason for that is mostly because of prior scam experience they have hard in the past.

Before you also reply, try to verify that what you're saying is correct

I just confirmed that these sites are still up as indicated by this user using my PC as he mentioned, I also accessed coingecko too and their sites are still much accessible without VPN. They are not down. You're a newbie so I would expect you to try confirming before you correct someone. Use a PC and confirm these sites before concluding that they are down.

Yeah, I guess some of what this OP said is true, but not all of it. Some of the larger exchange sites, such as Binance, Coinbase and Kraken, have been blocked in Nigeria before. Many people have been using VPN to access them. However,  it is not like every Bitcoin or crypto site is blocked, and it does not mean people can not access Bitcoin and that does not mean Bitcoin is banned in Nigeria.

Nigeria is once again doing that confusing thing they always do. One minute they are making laws for crypto, and the next minute they are blocking few sites due to the FX issue. So yeah,  it’s messy.

Yeah I agree with him on privacy and self-custody though. Those are just common sense things every bitcoin user should be doing anyway. But we should not overhype it like the police are coming for anyone who visits blockchain.com, we have not gotten any solid evidence of that.  They are trying to control the Naira, not go after average Bitcoin users.

I neva see any political leadership wey dey as confused as dis APC govment, honestly. Today dem go talk A, tomorrow dem go change am to B. Dat's why I don talk am sey even if CBN release article tomorrow sey cryptocurrencies dey welcome for dis kontry so, I go be d last persin to loose guard and trust dem. Neva.

People wey still dey do dis wan, I neva know how dem mind dey take rest. There's too much risk for Naija now to dey even expose persin identity and privacy. Make we dey guarded.

You can open Kucoin and Binance in your browser and do transaction without receiving error message? As OP drop this post, out of curiosity I decided to verify and see what I'm seeing for Kucoin and Binance and I no fit shout. I no bother check other exchanges because na Binance and Kucoin be the biggest for Nigeria that time before them attack them.

https://talkimg.com/images/2025/11/24/URaYMJ.png

https://talkimg.com/images/2025/11/24/URafJC.png

What made me laugh is the "Hmmmmm" which sound like Wike voice for my ear. Omo e be like them don dey play partial for this our country wey be say them go allow some people and not allow some people. Abi e get wetin una dey do wey una no dey tell us, make una share update o.

As per the website blockchain.com did open at the first time, and I tried checking it, at first time it opened, but now it doesn't open again


This has to do with p2p exchange between buyers and sellers, and almost all Nigerian adds placed on p2p will strictly say it in their terms of service, do not attach or write anything related to Bitcoin, altcoins or anything related to crypto currency. Knowing and adhering to this will help the identity of their transactions.


Knowing well that the country's leadership system is porous, making an alternative to Bitcoin is the way out for survival, and because of this, any transaction that has the slightest relation to Bitcoin or related crypto assets becomes a victim to the government. So, the safety of everyone in this crypto is to take to heart and

This post did not say there is a ban, the post drew reference to exchanges like Binance, Kucoin and others not opening on browser as a sign that their IP were blocked which means our government have not given up on their action against exchanges and cryptocurrency. There was a time people's accounts were frozen for simply indicating Bitcoin or anything relating to cryptocurrency in their transaction, even Opay was also under fire one time for supporting transaction in cryptocurrency. If you are so confident about free use of cryptocurrency, always add Bitcoin in the description of your p2p transaction lets watch you for 6 months. Just be careful and don't operate as if Bitcoin is legalized in Nigeria because there is no such thing.

Fraud is one reason, but it is not the main reason. At that time, the sites were restricted, and P2P was stopped on popular exchanges like Binance it was as a result of regulation. The government wants to regulate by making those exchanges comply with its rules of operation in Nigeria. Ever since then, some exchanges have complied and can now carry out P2P operations, but the sites have been inaccessible to date.

I don’t think this your claim is true because blockchain can still be accessed from Nigeria and i believe it this dey structure under which bitcoin works.

Even though Nigeria been don ban the use of crypto currency before them don lift the ban i see no reason why they always say we should avoid the use crypto narrations on our p2p transactions.

But still about it o to avoid frozen account this our country no well normal normal.

This is not true, I have just tried blockchain.com on my browser using MTN as the ISPN, it is not working. I also tried Binance and few other exchanges and they are not all working.

But this does not mean that Nigeria regulations does not allow cryptocurrencies. You can access the exchange sites through the use of their mobile app.

Brother, I differ on this with all you said, it's kind of misleading for me because we are all aware that right untill now we risk losing our funds of any bank transactions that carries bears cryptocurrency or crypto related statement in the remark or description of the transaction, when doing P2P trading. The laws on cryptocurrency in Nigeria are not really clear to say that there's no restrictions even though we say there's no ban on it too, but banks do confiscate any accounts with crypto transactions till date. A recent example is the Fintech mobile banks who die to the directives given to them by the Nigeria government gave a warning notifications to all their customers against using their platform for crypto transactions. Do you claim not to be aware of this or what?

I agree that a CEX would have to work in hand with the government to have a smooth operation in their jurisdiction but still the situation with Nigeria laws in cryptocurrency doesn't make the use of it clearly out of risk of not being confiscated when the bank has it known it was a crypto  related transaction.

The regulation compliance is to track fraud as well as other regulatory terms. Binance had complications with the Nigerian government, they accused them of exploitation, devaluation of our Naira and even money laundering. Remember when Bianace head of financial crime compliance was detained for almost eight months.

Do not mind the government, Binance was not the reason naira was devaluing at the time, it was the government that do not know how economy should be and they used their poor approaches to devalue the naira themselves. Only what Binance was guilty of is exploitation because the exchange does not have licence in Nigeria and also not paying tax.

I still stand to tell you that there is no clear restriction on cryptocurrency in Nigeria, all those guidelines given by CBN to FINTECH banks to confiscate any crypto transactions on their platforms were aimed at instilling fear on crypto traders and also to reduce the rate at which crypto enthusiasts use FINTECH banks, you can agree or not but that was basically their intention. I want you to know that the reason why it seems that the government are still frowning at crypto users in the country is because they are associating crypto transactions to frauds and funny enough we live in a country where the government don't even respect the laws if not a country that didn't ban cryptocurrency or should i say lifted the ban on cryptocurrency, do not have the right to interrogate anyone who is into cryptocurrency or freeze any account associated with cryptocurrency and i stand to correct you that what i said earlier was misleading, it isn't, if you really think about it from the angle of my explanation.
     Do you think that the Nigerian government don't know about the crypto transactions on exchanges? or if they want to gather the data of Nigerians who are using exchanges for crypto transactions do you think it will be difficult for them? they know but if you check some of the exchanges they are already paying tax to Nigerian government which is the reason why they are not issued restrictions on their p2p platforms as they did to Kucoin and Binance.

Yes you are right the use of btc in Nigeria is limited to the use of an ip address. When I have to create and account for my bitcoin I never know I have to use and Ip address to generate my profile. I just keep on trying but I can't get and access.

Slowly the country is getting to realize the use and lots of people now use it for saving. With time it will be legalize we pray
My question is as a new user can how long does it take me as a newbie to start getting merit.
Just like others who have been in the game for a while now

So you're telling me that the government jokingly gave an order to the residual banks and Fintech banks just to create fear on the citizens without actually meaning it. Like I don't understand you mate, government don't joke about financial guidelines both domestic or foreign. You can't tell the government intention as you weren't part of the team that gave those guidelines to the bank, so far as the law on cryptocurrency in the country isn't clearly stated whether we face risk of losing our funds legitimately or not because it's linked to crypto transactions the laws ain't clear on that. In Nigeria, crypto users are just floating at the mercy of these banks.

 That has being one of the excuses every other government that are against crypto employs to critic against it use by the citizens, Nigeria government excuse wouldn't be a surprise. When we talk about fraud and money laundering transactions we all know fiat is where the criminalities is embedded. For such a country which you're aware of the government officials not respecting the laws, yet you speak of no crypto restrictions and funds seizures by banks for funds suspected to be from crypto transactions, and you think there's a law against that?

 No i don't think so, but that doesn't mean we should give them the ropes to bond us by we acting nonchalantly about what it is from what ought to be.

What IP address are you talking about?
Creating Bitcoin on any site never needs to know your IP address, or you are talking about an exchange? You can sign up and register on anything crypto without needing a VPN to divert an IP address.

Nigerian government already knows we are using Bitcoin for savings, but they'll never allow or adopt or approve it's usage to be widely accepted, instead, they'll sabotage more and more.

I like the awareness Wey Dey for the OP, even if na Wetin some of us don know and some fit don forget because them Dey use apps Dey access this exchanges. Most of them still Dey restricted for the country and our government never free hand for cryptocurrency for the Country.

Wetin I no understand na why some persons wan Dey argue say bitcoin and other crypto related transactions Dey free for the country when me and you know say na lie.
If you believe say e Dey free Dey run your transactions Dey add crypto related things for narration make we see how long e go take before them com worry you.

Sometimes some people go Dey behave like say na another Nigeria for another Planet dem Dey.

Is no longer a new thing say our government hate BTC and users in d country. Wetin go make u tell person say u dey hodl BTC or u dey do BTC investment wen u no say government officials dey like to handle BTC or crypto users case well for their favour, because dey will collect everything u are using to gain access to those BTC in your wallet, and if u are not careful dey can charge you to court for terrorist sponsor, and it can make u to be sentence to life imprisonment.

As long u dey naija and u want to trade or sell BTC from person with fiat money, don't allow d person to include BTC in his payment, because bank will block your account immediately not to have access to d money, because is against d law of d land.