Ola Atose bets big on African Crypto Integration with launch of KoinKoin app

The narrative surrounding cryptocurrency in Nigeria has shifted dramatically. Once viewed by cautious regulators as a passing trend destined to “go the way of the waterbed,” digital assets are now recognized as a powerful economic force.

That evolution took center stage in Lagos on Independence Day, as Africa-focused digital asset exchange and financial inclusion platform KoinKoin officially launched its app.

Addressing attendees, Ola Atose, Chief Executive Officer reflected on the grueling multi-year journey from the industry’s chaotic early days to a future defined by deep regulatory collaboration and institutional maturity.

Launched deliberately on Nigeria’s Independence Day, KoinKoin positions itself not as a disruptor looking to bypass the system, but as a collaborative bridge between retail users, traditional finance, and regulatory bodies.

“We started KYC back in 2018, and in those days, the crypto world was like the Wild West and in so many ways, it still is,” Atose shared during the launch.

Remembering a 2021 visit to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), where an official skeptically compared virtual assets to a waterbed, Atose noted how adoption figures have since silenced the doubters.