Crypto & Digital Assets - Saudi Arabia

DevelopingNo dedicated VASP/exchange licensing regime. Governed by the 2018 Standing Committee position (CMA + SAMA + ministries) that virtual currencies are unregulated/unauthorized; tokenized-securities activity is handled case-by-case through the CMA FinTech Lab sandbox under the Capital Market Law. A comprehensive digital-asset framework is reportedly under development by the CMA.

As of mid-2026, Saudi Arabia has no comprehensive licensing framework for crypto exchanges or virtual-asset service providers, and no firm holds a local license to operate a crypto exchange. A 2018 Standing Committee declaration (led by the CMA, with SAMA and several ministries) warned that virtual currencies such as Bitcoin are not approved, not regulated inside the Kingdom, and that no parties are licensed to deal in them. The only regulated on-ramp for digital-asset activity is the CMA's FinTech Lab sandbox, used chiefly for tokenized securities and real-estate tokenization, while a broader framework is reportedly being prepared for public consultation.

Machine-assisted translation · verified 5/23/2026 · orientation, not legal advice. English version →