Is Nigeria’s eNaira Dead? CBN Forms New Task Force for Official Stablecoin

Core Insights - Nigeria's central bank has established a task force to explore the adoption of stablecoins, raising concerns about the future of the eNaira digital currency [1][2] - The eNaira has seen sluggish adoption, with only 0.5% of Nigerians using it a year after its launch, and 98.5% of wallets remaining inactive [3][5] - The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is collaborating with the Ministry of Finance and other regulators to assess the implications of introducing an official Nigerian stablecoin [2][8] eNaira Performance - The total transaction volume for the eNaira since its launch is approximately ₦29.3 billion, with over 850,000 transactions recorded, which is significantly low for a country with over 200 million people [4] - By early 2024, the number of eNaira wallets reached 13 million, but most remain unused, indicating a lack of engagement [3][4] - The eNaira mobile app has been removed from Google Play, and the USSD code for access is no longer functional, further complicating user access [4] Public Sentiment and Challenges - Public sentiment towards the eNaira is largely negative, with users expressing frustration over its usability and lack of benefits compared to cash or private cryptocurrencies, leading to nicknames like "E-vanish" and "E-dead" [6][7] - The CBN has acknowledged the failure of the eNaira to gain widespread acceptance, attributing it to low awareness and inadequate user education [5][6] Future Directions - Efforts to revive the eNaira include a partnership with blockchain firm Gluwa to enhance technical infrastructure and plans to expand its use for government payments [6] - CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with risk management in discussions about stablecoins during global financial meetings [8]