The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the commencement of the second cohort of its Regulatory Sandbox Programme, with a new dual-track structure designed to support responsible innovation in virtual assets and data-enabled financial services. The programme, which opens for applications on August 12, 2026 and closes on August 31, 2026, will run under two dedicated tracks: the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Track and the Data-Enabled Financial Services Track. AdvertisementThe statement said the Regulatory Sandbox offers a controlled environment in which eligible participants can test innovative financial products, services, business models, and enabling technologies under its supervision. It however, stressed that participation in the Regulatory Sandbox does not constitute a licence, authorisation, or approval to operate outside the approved testing parameters. It said the Sandbox was intended to facilitate responsible experimentation, strengthen regulatory engagement, and support evidence-based policy development in line with its statutory mandate.