The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has invited applications for the second cohort of its Regulatory Sandbox Programme, with dedicated tracks for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and data-enabled financial services. The Data-Enabled Financial Services Track, which excludes VASPs, will focus on innovations that leverage secure digital infrastructure and permission-based data sharing to improve financial inclusion, payments, credit, risk management, operational efficiency and consumer outcomes. The CBN said the Regulatory Sandbox provides a controlled environment where eligible participants can test innovative financial products, services, business models and enabling technologies under its supervision. Commenting on the initiative, the Director, Payments System Policy Department, CBN, Mr Musa Jimoh, said financial innovation was continuously changing the way individuals and businesses access and use financial services. Jimoh said the CBN Regulatory Sandbox, powered by technology in partnership with EMTECH, provides a structured and collaborative platform for innovators and regulators to test promising solutions responsibly while maintaining appropriate safeguards.