Bamboo says it has successfully secured a U.S. broker-dealer licence through its affiliate, Bamboo Securities LLC to be able to facilitate investment opportunities for Nigerians in global markets.
The FinTech company, which made the announcement today on its X account, says that the development positions Bamboo as a key player in the African FinTech landscape, enabling it to offer its users direct access to U.S. securities and broaden their investment horizons.
The U.S. broker-dealer licence, Bamboo says, allows it to operate as a registered entity in the United States and provide users with access to invest in U.S. stocks and other financial instruments.

Bamboo says that with the licence acquisition, its platform now allows users to trade over 3,000 stocks listed on both Nigerian and U.S. exchanges through a user-friendly mobile app. The company says it has quickly gained traction among young investors, boasting over 500,000 registered users within just a few years of operation. Its innovative approach includes fractional investing, which enables users to invest with as little as $20, making it accessible for a broader audience.
Bamboo.
Bamboo: With US licence, we have democratised investment opportunities for Nigerians
The acquisition of this licence is part of Bamboo’s mission to democratise investment opportunities for Nigerians and provide them with seamless access to global capital markets, addressing the historical challenges faced by investors in Africa. By partnering with U.S. financial institutions and adhering to regulatory requirements, Bamboo says it can now facilitate transactions for its users, allowing them to buy, hold, or sell stocks listed on U.S. exchanges directly from their mobile devices or computers.
Bamboo was co-founded in January 2019 by Richmond Bassey and Yanmo Omorogbe, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in technology and finance. Bamboo emerged as the first online brokerage service specifically designed for Africans seeking access to global financial markets, according to its founders.
The platform was created to tackle the barriers that wealthy Africans faced when trying to invest internationally. Previously, investing in U.S. stocks required navigating cumbersome processes through local asset managers and international brokers—a method that was not only inefficient, but also costly.
Bamboo says that with the licence acquisition, its platform now allows users to trade over 3,000 stocks listed on both Nigerian and U.S. exchanges through a user-friendly mobile app. The company says it has quickly gained traction among young investors, boasting over 500,000 registered users within just a few years of operation. Its innovative approach includes fractional investing, which enables users to invest with as little as $20, making it accessible for a broader audience.
In May 2024, Bamboo launched Nigerian stocks on its platform after securing a digital sub-broker licence from Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This move allowed the company to expand its offerings by including blue-chip Nigerian companies such as MTN Nigeria, Dangote Cement, and Nestle Nigeria, thereby catering to local investors who prefer familiar assets.
The recent acquisition of the U.S. broker-dealer licence marks another significant milestone for Bamboo as it continues to enhance its service offerings and attract younger investors interested in diversifying their portfolios with international assets, according to Richmond Bassey. “Securing this licence,” Bassey says, “is not just a regulatory achievement; it represents our commitment to providing our users with unparalleled access to global investment opportunities.”
The ability to trade U.S. stocks directly through its platform, Bamboo says, is expected to transform the investment landscape in Nigeria. With many Nigerians seeking ways to diversify their investments amid economic uncertainties, Bamboo expects that the new capabilities offered by its platform will likely resonate well with tech-savvy millennials looking for accessible and affordable investment options.
Bamboo’s emphasis on education through resources like investment content and tools further supports its mission of empowering users to make informed investment decisions, according to the company. As financial literacy grows among young Nigerians, Bamboo aims to capture a significant share of the estimated $100 billion – $250 billion market for investment assets in Nigeria.

Bamboo’s acquisition of a U.S. broker-dealer license represents a pivotal moment not only for the company but also for the broader fintech ecosystem in Nigeria. By bridging the gap between local investors and global markets, Bamboo is poised to play a crucial role in democratizing access to wealth creation opportunities across Africa. With ongoing innovations and strategic expansions like these, Bamboo is set to redefine how Africans engage with financial markets and create pathways toward sustainable economic growth.