Roqqu

Roqqu is a Nigerian-founded cryptocurrency exchange and all-in-one fintech platform that launched in 2019 with a mission to make digital assets accessible to every African. Headquartered in Lekki, Lagos, the platform has grown into one of the continent's most widely used crypto apps, reaching more than 1.8 million registered users and facilitating over $1.5 billion in traded volume across 17 million generated wallets. The company operates under a European virtual currency license obtained in January 2023 and holds regulatory approvals in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya, positioning it as a multi-jurisdiction exchange bridging African fiat economies with global crypto markets.

How It Works

Roqqu functions as a centralized exchange (CEX) where users sign up with an email address, complete identity verification, and then deposit local currency or crypto directly into their account. The platform integrates local banking rails in Nigeria (naira deposits and withdrawals are free), Ghana (cedi), and Kenya (shilling via M-Pesa), removing the friction that typically prevents African users from accessing global crypto markets. Once funded, users can buy, sell, swap, and hold more than 120 digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and Solana (SOL).

The core trading interface supports instant swaps between assets and market-order purchases against local fiat. A 2% fee applies to crypto transactions while naira bank deposits and withdrawals carry no additional charge, a deliberate design choice to encourage on-ramp adoption rather than penalizing fiat flows. The mobile apps for Android and iOS are the primary interface for most users, reflecting Roqqu's mobile-first strategy.

Key Features and Products

Spot trading and wallet. The multi-asset wallet supports over 120 cryptocurrencies with cold storage custody and real-time price feeds. SOL is tradable directly against naira and USDT.

Qash payments. Roqqu's embedded payments layer, Qash, enables borderless transfers, utility bill payments, and merchant payment links. Users can generate a payment link to accept crypto from anywhere, including for crowdfunding campaigns or peer-to-peer settlement.

Virtual debit cards. Users can spend crypto balances at any card-accepting merchant through Roqqu-issued virtual debit cards, giving crypto holdings real-world purchasing utility without requiring an off-ramp to a bank account first.

Savings. The platform offers USDT savings accounts with no bank charges, providing a stablecoin-denominated savings vehicle that insulates users from local currency volatility—particularly relevant in markets experiencing currency devaluation like Nigeria.

Crypto loans. Collateralized lending allows users to borrow against their crypto holdings without selling, preserving asset exposure while accessing liquidity.

Futures trading. Roqqu launched a crypto derivatives product in beta in December 2025. It exited beta in March 2026 having attracted more than 30,000 users, and is now a live product line for users seeking leveraged exposure.

Airdrops. The platform runs an airdrops program distributing tokens to its user base, having previously distributed CORE and TON tokens to eligible holders.

Solana on Roqqu

Solana (SOL) is a supported trading and custody asset on the Roqqu platform. Users can buy SOL with naira or USDT, store it in Roqqu's multi-asset wallet, and sell or swap it back to fiat. Roqqu does not operate a native Solana program or protocol—it is a custodial centralized exchange—but it represents a key fiat-to-Solana on-ramp for African users, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana where direct USD-denominated exchanges have historically been difficult to access due to currency controls and banking restrictions.

Security and Compliance

Roqqu is ISO 27001 certified and complies with both GDPR and Nigeria's NDPR (Nigeria Data Protection Regulation), having completed an NDPR audit in 2024. The platform employs cold storage for the majority of user funds, two-factor authentication, and real-time email and SMS transaction notifications. Uptime is stated at 99.9%.

Regulatory footprint includes a Nigerian SEC/CBN-aligned operating license, South African approval (April 2023), a European Economic Area virtual currency license (January 2023), and ongoing expansion in Kenya following Roqqu's acquisition of Nairobi-based crypto exchange Flitaa in July 2025.

Team

Roqqu was co-founded by Eseoghene (Benjamin) Onomor, who serves as CEO, alongside Uchenna Nnodum. The CMO is Ayo Shonibare. The full team is not comprehensively disclosed in public records. The company has operated as a funded startup with at least one disclosed funding round, though the specific amount has not been made public.

Geographic Reach and Ecosystem Fit

Roqqu's core user base is concentrated in Nigeria but has expanded materially into Ghana, and via Flitaa it now has a Kenyan operation. Its European license enables euro-denominated transactions for diaspora users and cross-border remittance use cases. The platform competes with Binance, Luno, and local alternatives, but differentiates through its naira-native UX, local payment integrations, and Africa-first product decisions.

The exchange holds a 4.0 rating on Trustpilot and has received media coverage from Cointelegraph, Bitcoin.com, and Nigerian outlets including Vanguard. Recent product launches—futures derivatives and crypto cards—signal a move up the product stack from a basic buy/sell exchange toward a fuller-spectrum financial services platform.

Within the Solana ecosystem, Roqqu's relevance is as a major African retail on-ramp. For Solana's global distribution story, Roqqu represents one of the more significant access points for the continent's growing user base to acquire and hold SOL.