Luno Nigeria is preparing to introduce perpetuals trading and may launch futures products in 2026, as it accelerates plans to evolve from a cryptocurrency exchange into what it describes as an “all-in-one investment app”.
Ayotunde Alabi, Country Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Luno Nigeria, disclosed the plans in an interview, outlining an ambitious product roadmap designed to consolidate the company’s foothold in one of Africa’s most active digital asset markets.
“We want to be an all-in-one investment app for customers that is woven into the everyday investment life cycle of our customers,” Alabi told TechCabal. “And that’s what has informed a number of [products] that we launched in Nigeria last year.”
The move signals a strategic shift beyond simple buy-and-sell crypto services towards a broader suite of investment products, including staking, tokenised equities and derivatives.
What You Need to Know
Perpetuals and futures are derivatives, financial contracts that allow traders to speculate on the future price of an asset without owning it directly. In cryptocurrency markets, these instruments enable users to potentially profit from price swings in assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as other tokenised assets.
Unlike traditional spot trading, perpetual contracts do not have an expiry date, while futures are agreements to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a specified future date. Both products can amplify returns, but they also significantly increase risk, particularly in volatile markets like crypto.
For Luno, entering the derivatives segment represents both an opportunity and a calculated risk. Nigerian traders have increasingly gravitated towards offshore platforms that offer advanced trading features, including leveraged products. By bringing perpetuals and potentially futures in-house, Luno is aiming to retain sophisticated traders while attracting new ones.
Alabi added that Luno Nigeria plans to introduce about three “game-changing products” in the first quarter of 2026.
Expanding Beyond Buy-and-Sell Crypto
Founded in the United Kingdom and operating across four African markets, Luno is among the longest-serving crypto platforms in Nigeria. However, as competition intensifies, the company has steadily broadened its product offerings.
In July 2025, Luno introduced staking services, allowing users to earn yield on selected digital assets. Staking enables holders of certain cryptocurrencies to participate in network validation processes in exchange for rewards.
“We launched staking to deliver more value to our customers, because beyond price movement and speculation, we wanted assets that can deliver value regardless of the price action of the assets,” said Alabi.
According to him, one staking product delivered approximately 15 per cent annual percentage yield (APY), irrespective of short-term price fluctuations, an attractive proposition in a market often characterised by volatility.
Tokenised US Stocks Gain Early Traction
In August 2025, Luno expanded into tokenised United States equities in South Africa, extending the product to Nigeria the following month. The feature allows users to move seamlessly from crypto assets into tokenised shares within the same application.
The early response was encouraging. The product attracted 10,000 users in South Africa within its first month. By year-end, it had drawn around 30,000 users in total, with Nigerian retail investors accounting for roughly 15 per cent of that figure, according to Alabi.
The integration of crypto, tokenised equities and, soon, derivatives within a single platform underscores Luno’s strategy: offer product breadth while positioning itself as a relatively conservative operator in a volatile market.
A Conservative Stance in a Speculative Market
Nigeria’s crypto ecosystem has grown increasingly crowded. Local exchanges and global offshore platforms compete aggressively for market share, often differentiating themselves through the rapid listing of trending tokens or high-risk derivative products.
Busha, for instance, recently repositioned itself as a broader financial platform and plans to introduce crypto asset-backed lending, card payments and additional investment tools. Meanwhile, Roqqu launched futures trading in December 2025 to expand its derivatives offering.
Against this backdrop, Luno says it is prioritising risk management over speculation.
“We only list tokens that are backed by real-world utilities,” said Alabi. “[We’re looking out for] the backers, the liquidity, and [how] the coin aligns with all our risk criteria, making sure that if we launch a coin, or make these coins available for our customers, then there’s a reduced chance of them losing their assets.”
This measured listing approach contrasts with platforms that chase meme tokens and short-term trading frenzies. Luno is betting that perceived safety, regulatory alignment and product diversification will resonate with Nigerian investors seeking both growth and stability.
Consolidation and Expansion
As it prepares to introduce perpetual trading and potentially futures, Luno Nigeria faces a delicate balancing act. Derivatives can deepen user engagement and increase trading volumes, but they also heighten exposure to risk, particularly in a retail-heavy market.
Alabi indicated that 2026 will be a year of consolidation as much as expansion. The company plans to strengthen recently launched products while pushing into new segments of the investment market.
The broader ambition is to move beyond being simply a crypto exchange and instead become a comprehensive digital investment platform embedded in the financial routines of Nigerian users.
Talking Points
It is a strategic move by Luno Nigeria to expand into perpetuals trading and potentially futures in 2026. This signals a clear ambition to evolve beyond a basic crypto exchange into a more comprehensive investment platform.
The push to become an “all-in-one investment app” reflects how Nigeria’s digital asset market is maturing. Users are no longer satisfied with simple buy-and-sell crypto services; they are looking for staking, tokenised equities and more sophisticated trading instruments within a single, trusted ecosystem.
At Techparley, we see the expansion into derivatives as both an opportunity and a responsibility. Perpetuals and futures can deepen market participation and improve liquidity, but they also introduce higher risk, particularly in a retail-driven environment. Investor education and transparent risk disclosures will be critical.
The earlier rollout of staking and tokenised US stocks shows that Luno is deliberately building a layered product strategy. Integrating crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum with equities within one app simplifies portfolio diversification for Nigerian investors.
As 2026 approaches, the real test will be execution. Successfully balancing innovation with user protection will determine whether Luno can cement its position as a leading multi-asset investment platform in Nigeria’s fast-evolving crypto ecosystem.
——————-
Bookmark Techparley.com for the most insightful technology news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @Techparleynews, on Facebook at Techparley Africa, on LinkedIn at Techparley Africa, or on Instagram at Techparleynews.
