Nigeria's Roqqu joins race to bring tokenised US stocks to retail investors

Emmanuel Peter, Roqqu's head of trading and markets, sat at his desk, eyes fixed on the calendar. He knew the end of June was just around the corner, and with it, a major milestone for the Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange. The countdown had begun, and Peter was determined to ensure that everything was in place for the launch of Roqqu's tokenised US stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to retail investors. As he spoke to TechCabal, the tension was palpable, but Peter's voice remained calm and collected.

"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," Peter revealed, his words dripping with anticipation. The product, a result of Roqqu's partnership with US-based Ondo Finance, was expected to revolutionize the way Nigerian retail investors accessed US stocks. Gone would be the days of relying on traditional brokers, navigating complex regulations, and dealing with foreign exchange (FX) constraints. The tokenised stocks and ETFs would provide a seamless, blockchain-based experience, allowing investors to buy exposure to shares of publicly traded companies through digital tokens.

The partnership between Roqqu and Ondo Finance underscored a growing shift towards tokenisation in Nigeria's digital asset sector. Several crypto platforms, including Luno Nigeria and Blockchain.com, had introduced tokenised stocks in 2025, racing to bring traditional financial assets onto blockchain networks. This trend was not unique to Nigeria; globally, companies were exploring the potential of tokenisation to democratize access to financial assets. However, for African markets like Nigeria, the impact was particularly significant, given the existing restrictions on accessing foreign securities.

Ondo Finance, one of the world's largest issuers of tokenised real-world assets, had already made a name for itself in the industry. With about $2.72 billion worth of tokenised assets on its platform, the company had attracted over 18,000 users, including dollar-yield products, stocks, and ETFs. Min Lin, managing director of global business development at Ondo Finance, was keen to expand access to tokenised real-world assets across emerging markets. "Expanding access to tokenised real-world assets across emerging markets is a key priority for us, and partnerships like this one with Roqqu are part of how we're making that happen," Lin said, highlighting the company's commitment to the African market.

The launch of Roqqu's tokenised US stocks and ETFs marked a new era for Nigerian investors. No longer would they need to rely on traditional brokers or navigate complex regulations to access US stocks. The product offered a streamlined, blockchain-based experience, allowing investors to buy exposure to shares of publicly traded companies through digital tokens. This was a significant development, particularly for Nigerian retail investors, who had long faced restrictions on accessing foreign securities.

As Roqqu prepares to launch its tokenised US stocks and ETFs, the road ahead is filled with promise and potential. The partnership with Ondo Finance has set the stage for a new era of access and opportunity for Nigerian investors. With the product expected to launch at the end of June, the excitement is palpable. As Emmanuel Peter would say, the countdown has begun, and everything is in place for a major milestone tokenised assets.

As a writer, I am struck by the significance of this development. Tokenisation has the potential to democratize access to financial assets, and for African markets like Nigeria, the impact is particularly significant. The partnership between Roqqu and Ondo Finance is evidence of the growing shift towards tokenisation, and I predict that we will see more companies exploring this space in the coming months. The future is bright for Nigerian investors, and with the launch of Roqqu's tokenised US stocks and ETFs, a new era of access and opportunity has dawned.