The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has projected that opportunities in digital assets will be worth $10 trillion by 2030.

SEC Director-General, Dr Emomotimi Agama, made the projection in his acceptance speech after his election as Vice Chairman of the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

Agama said Africa and the Middle East, with their young, tech-savvy populations, must take the lead in the global digital asset space. 

He pledged to transform capital markets into engines of inclusive growth, innovation and shared prosperity for the regions.

“We must aggressively expand listings by working with the African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) and Sub-Saharan African exchanges to harmonise standards, reduce listing costs, and create cross-border linkages,” he said.

To boost liquidity, Agama said the committee would pioneer regional market-making schemes and advocate for pension fund reforms to channel domestic savings into productive investments. 

He also promised partnerships with AFMI and development institutions to de-risk infrastructure projects and attract global capital.

“With 70 per cent of Africa’s population under 30, we must empower youth through retail investor programmes to democratise market participation, fintech sandboxes to nurture youth-led innovation, and listings of high-growth startups to create wealth and jobs,” he added.

Agama noted that while IOSCO had made progress, much work remained to be done. 

He called on members to maintain the mutual support and cooperation of past years for the benefit of investors, markets, and the global economy.

The committee, he said, would also deepen discussions to launch a “Listings Growth Initiative” for Small and Medium Enterprises.

Agama will serve on the IOSCO Board, the organisation’s highest decision-making body until 2026.

IOSCO, established in 1983, is recognised as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators, with members that oversee more than 95 per cent of the world’s securities markets across over 100 jurisdictions.