Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange, Roqqu, has partnered with US-based tokenised asset manager Ondo Finance to offer blockchain-based versions of US stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to retail investors.
The product is expected to launch at the end of June, according to Roqqu. It will allow Nigerian retail investors to gain exposure to US stocks without going through traditional brokerage channels.
“We have set the end of June as the launch date; we’re looking at June 29 to roll this product out so it can be available to all users,” said Emmanuel Peter, Roqqu’s head of trading and markets. “We’re in the final phase of testing and ensuring it meets the standards required for public use.”
The move highlights the growing shift toward tokenisation within Nigeria’s digital asset industry. In recent months, platforms such as Luno Nigeria and Blockchain.com have also introduced tokenised stock offerings as they expand access to traditional financial assets through blockchain infrastructure.
For Ondo Finance, the partnership marks its first direct collaboration with a Nigerian crypto exchange. The company previously integrated with Blockchain.com in October 2025, extending access to its tokenised stocks and ETFs across more than 100 markets, including Nigeria.
Tokenised stocks allow investors to gain exposure to shares of listed companies through digital tokens. These tokens are typically backed one-to-one by underlying assets held with a custodian, but can be traded and transferred on blockchain networks. They also enable faster settlement and trading outside traditional market hours.
Ondo Finance is one of the largest issuers of tokenised real-world assets globally, with about $2.72 billion in tokenised assets on its platform, according to data from RWA.xyz. More than 18,000 users currently hold its tokenised products, which include dollar-yield instruments, stocks, and ETFs.
“Expanding access to tokenised real-world assets across emerging markets is a key priority for us, and partnerships like this with Roqqu are part of how we’re making that happen,” said Min Lin, managing director for global business development at Ondo Finance. “We look forward to bringing Ondo tokenised stocks and ETFs to their users and growing participation in the tokenised economy.”
For investors in markets like Nigeria, where access to foreign securities is often constrained by geography, regulation, and foreign exchange limitations, tokenised assets are being positioned as a simpler route into global markets.
“Before now, access to the world’s best financial products has been limited by geography, infrastructure and regulation. Tokenisation is changing that,” said Benjamin Onomor, chief executive officer of Roqqu. “We have entered a new era where financial assets can move with the speed of the internet, settle around the clock, and become more accessible to investors globally.”
However, the push for faster settlement comes as traditional capital markets also modernise their infrastructure. Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reduced its settlement cycle twice in seven months, moving from T+3 to T+2 in November 2025 and then to T+1 from June 1, allowing equity trades to settle one business day after execution.
While the initial rollout will focus on US equities, Roqqu says it plans to expand into tokenised assets from African markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, subject to regulatory approval.
Globally, tokenisation is gaining momentum. More than $360 billion worth of real-world assets have been tokenised across blockchain networks, spanning stocks, credit, and real estate, according to RWA.xyz.
For crypto firms, the challenge now is extending that growth beyond developed markets and making blockchain-based financial assets accessible to a broader pool of investors.