When it comes to cryptocurrency regulation Saudi Arabia, the legal framework governing digital asset use, trading, and taxation within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also known as KSA crypto policy, it’s one of the most tightly controlled systems in the Middle East. Unlike countries that banned crypto outright, Saudi Arabia chose to build its own rules—strict, centralized, and designed to protect its economy from volatility and illicit flows.
This system doesn’t just target exchanges. It reaches into wallets, staking, and even DeFi platforms that Saudi residents might access. The Saudi Central Bank, the official monetary authority overseeing financial stability and digital currency oversight in Saudi Arabia. Also known as SAMA, it works closely with the Capital Market Authority to enforce KYC and AML requirements, identity verification and transaction monitoring rules that all crypto platforms must follow to operate legally. Also known as anti-money laundering rules, they are now mandatory for any service targeting Saudi users. No anonymous trading. No unregistered platforms. No exceptions. That’s why exchanges like Bitsonic and others with no local compliance simply don’t serve Saudi customers.
What does this mean for you? If you’re holding crypto in Saudi Arabia, you’re under scrutiny. Transactions above certain thresholds get flagged. Wallets linked to foreign exchanges without local licensing are at risk. Even airdrops—like those from international projects—can be treated as unregulated financial instruments. The government isn’t trying to stop innovation. It’s trying to control it. That’s why you see Saudi-backed blockchain projects like NEOM’s digital currency experiments moving fast, while independent DeFi apps stay off-limits.
The crackdowns you’ve seen in South Korea and Canada? They’re similar—but Saudi Arabia moves faster. No public debate. No slow transition. Just a notice, then enforcement. And it’s working. Trading volumes on unlicensed platforms have dropped. Local exchanges now require full ID verification. Even crypto ATMs are being pulled. The message is clear: if you want to trade crypto in Saudi Arabia, you play by their rules—or you don’t play at all.
Below, you’ll find real cases showing how these rules impact users, exchanges, and even crypto projects trying to reach the region. Some are about fines. Some are about shutdowns. All of them show the same thing: in Saudi Arabia, crypto isn’t illegal—but it’s tightly watched. And if you’re not compliant, you’re already in the crosshairs.
Saudi Arabia bans financial institutions from dealing with crypto, but allows blockchain innovation. Learn why banks can't touch Bitcoin, how individuals still trade it, and what the future holds for digital finance in the Kingdom.