At the Muson Center on Saturday 15 August 2026, the energy at Decentralized Nigeria 2.0 was truly palpable. It was a gathering of brilliant minds dedicated to the foundational growth and regulatory evolution of the Web3 space in Africa. It was also a profoundly humbling evening for me and the entire team at Infusion Lawyers, as we were honored with two major recognitions at the inaugural awards.
“Law Firm of the Year Supporting Web3 and Crypto Ecosystem”
First, Infusion Lawyers was named the Law Firm of the Year Supporting Web3 and Crypto Ecosystem. Accepting this award on behalf of our dedicated team brought back vivid memories of our early days navigating an uncharted and often misunderstood regulatory landscape.
As I shared during my acceptance speech:
“Back in 2017, Infusion Lawyers was the first boutique law firm in Nigeria and Africa—as far as I know—that had a dedicated Blockchain & Virtual Assets Practice. Also, as a firm, we maintained the unpopular position that the CBN circular of 2021, which purportedly banned crypto-related transactions in Nigeria’s banking and financial system, was illegal as it was beyond the statutory powers of the Central Bank. Even a number of lawyers disagreed with us. In October of the same year, the Federal High Court effectively declared the attempt to illegalize cryptocurrency transactions through a circular ultra vires.”
Standing firm on our legal convictions and advocating for a sound regulatory framework hasn’t always been the easiest path, but it has certainly been the right one. As we look toward the horizon, this recognition serves as a powerful benchmark for our continued growth. But we didn’t do it alone; we did it with the community we served. I also noted:
“Come April 2027, Infusion Lawyers will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. With special awards such as this, we believe that we are on track as a law firm and can only look forward to more rewarding years ahead.”
“Blockchain Lawyer of the Year.”
The evening held a second, deeply personal honor for me when I was awarded Blockchain Lawyer of the Year. Leading the Innovation and Emerging Technologies Practice at our firm is a passion, but it is the broader community that gives this work its true meaning and momentum.
Reflecting on this personal milestone, my message was, and remains, rooted in gratitude and a focus on fundamental, sustainable value over fleeting hype:
“I greatly thank the organizers of Decentralized Nigeria for this special award to me. From inception, Decentralized Nigeria has proven that it celebrates real value in the ecosystem, not promoting tokens or memes. For the young lawyers and future lawyers in the room, anywhere you find yourself, always seek to connect the dots. When you can connect the dots, that is where the value is.”
Thank You and Congratulations!
To the conveners of Decentralized Nigeria 2.0, Nova Phoenix, Founder & CEO of Lifeblood DAO and its Regional Manager, Rume Ophi, thank you for investing in the future of the Web3 ecosystem in Africa. I thank the organizers for recognizing the hard work that goes into building and protecting this ecosystem.
To the incredible team at Infusion Lawyers, this is your win; and it is our win, together. I am inspired to continue to provide the visionary leadership that we need as we prepare to mark our first decade, and begin our walk into our second decade, as a firm.
To our clients, local and global, who have trusted us over the years as their partner in innovation, thank you for building with us. I look forward to more successful partnerships with you.
To the Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (VASPA), thank you for gracing the event with your presence, ably led by none other than the Executive Chair, Franklin Peters, Founder & CEO of Boundlesspay—whose platform also got an award for its resilience in the Web3 space over the years. I congratulate all awardees, including A&D Forensics, Blockxhain.com, Boundlesspay, Blockchain.com, Busha, Channels TV, cNGN, Luno, and Roqqu, Superteam, and Quidax.
And to everyone building, innovating, and regulating the future of decentralized technology in Nigeria and beyond—let’s keep connecting the dots.
Senator Ihenyen, Lead Partner
