Expanding Blockchain Housing Solution to Nigeria: Empowa's Advancement
In a significant move for the growth of blockchain technology in the housing finance sector, Empowa, a blockchain-based housing finance platform, has expanded its operations into Nigeria in 2025 [1][2][3]. This strategic partnership aims to provide innovative solutions for housing finance in Nigeria and ease Empowa's entry into the market.
The four-way partnership includes Nigerian-based housing finance platform PropPay, the Housing Cooperative Collective, a national organization representing housing cooperatives in Nigeria, and local real estate developers [1][3]. PropPay acts as Empowa’s on-the-ground partner, ensuring regulatory compliance, while the Housing Cooperative Collective facilitates the onboarding of its cooperative members to the Empowa platform [1].
Empowa's initial model, which involved raising funds by selling NFTs tied to houses, has pivoted due to the cryptocurrency bear market and global economic challenges. The platform is now seeking funding from institutional investors, development banks, and pension funds to support its housing projects, moving away from crowdfunding through crypto assets [1][2].
Empowa's business model revolves around the EMP token, which is central to the platform. Developers can borrow EMP tokens from the Empowa community if they lack sufficient collateral before accessing housing funds [2]. Homeowners will store their funds in Empowa's EMP token through the EmpowaPay platform [2]. EMP token holders have on-chain profiles that integrate with banks and housing market players, enabling innovative funding options that traditional banking does not provide [2].
This expansion illustrates Empowa’s strategy to connect property investors with institutional funders using blockchain-based profiles and on-chain liquidity, making housing finance more accessible and scalable in Nigeria [2]. Plans are in place to list the EMP token on Nigerian exchanges, pending approval from the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) [3].
The partnership leverages local expertise and regulatory compliance to accelerate Empowa’s expansion in a complex market like Nigeria’s [3]. This move is part of a broader trend in Africa where blockchain startups are collaborating with local entities to navigate regulatory environments and unlock new market opportunities [1][3].
In conclusion, Empowa’s expansion into Nigeria represents a significant development in blockchain-driven affordable housing finance, emphasising a shift towards institutional partnerships and regulatory-aligned operations to foster sustainable growth in African markets. The partnerships aim to digitise housing cooperatives in Nigeria through Empowa's EmpowaPay platform, potentially improving access to housing finance for a larger segment of the Nigerian population [3].
Sources: [1] TechCrunch. (2025). Empowa pivots away from NFTs and raises funds from institutional investors for housing projects in Nigeria. [online] Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/01/empowa-pivots-away-from-nfts-and-raises-funds-from-institutional-investors-for-housing-projects-in-nigeria/
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Empowa expands blockchain housing finance operations into Nigeria. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/01/empowa-expands-blockchain-housing-finance-operations-into-nigeria
[3] Financial Times. (2025). Empowa's strategic partnership to drive blockchain housing finance growth in Nigeria. [online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/568b06b6-4b7b-487c-8660-3e878107339a
- Empowa, a blockchain-based housing finance platform, has partnered with PropPay and the Housing Cooperative Collective in Nigeria to facilitate its entry into the market and provide innovative solutions for housing finance.
- Due to the cryptocurrency bear market and global economic challenges, Empowa has pivoted from raising funds by selling NFTs tied to houses to seeking funding from institutional investors, development banks, and pension funds for its housing projects.
- The Empowa business model involves the EMP token, which developers can borrow to access housing funds if they lack sufficient collateral, and homeowners can store their funds in Empowa's EMP token through the EmpowaPay platform.
- This four-way partnership in Nigeria aims to digitise housing cooperatives, potentially improving access to housing finance for a larger segment of the population through Empowa's EmpowaPay platform.
- This expansion of Empowa into Nigeria and the partnering with local entities is a part of a broader trend in Africa where blockchain startups are collaborating with local entities to navigate regulatory environments and unlock new market opportunities in the finance industry.
