SAMA crypto rules: What they are, who enforces them, and how they affect your crypto in 2025

When it comes to SAMA crypto rules, the regulatory framework set by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) that governs all cryptocurrency activities in Saudi Arabia. Also known as SAMA financial regulations for digital assets, it’s the single most important set of rules for anyone running a crypto business or holding significant crypto in the Kingdom. Unlike countries that ban crypto outright, Saudi Arabia took a controlled approach—letting crypto exist but only under strict oversight. This isn’t about stopping innovation. It’s about stopping fraud, money laundering, and unregulated gambling disguised as crypto trading.

These rules don’t just apply to exchanges. They touch every part of the crypto ecosystem: wallet providers, token issuers, mining operations, and even individuals who trade at scale. SAMA works closely with MiCA regulation, the European Union’s comprehensive crypto framework that sets global benchmarks for licensing, transparency, and consumer protection, even though Saudi Arabia isn’t in the EU. Why? Because global crypto flows don’t care about borders. If you’re dealing with European investors or using EU-based infrastructure, SAMA expects you to meet similar standards. That’s why many Saudi crypto firms now follow MiCA-style compliance even before it’s legally required.

And it’s not just Europe. SAMA also aligns with OFAC cryptocurrency sanctions, U.S. financial sanctions that block transactions with known criminals, terrorists, and rogue states using digital assets. If your crypto wallet touches a sanctioned address—even once—SAMA can shut down your business. That’s why Saudi exchanges now use blockchain analytics tools to screen every transaction, just like U.S. and EU firms do. This isn’t optional. It’s survival.

What does this mean for you? If you’re a trader in Saudi Arabia, you can still buy Bitcoin or Ethereum—but only through licensed platforms. If you’re building a DeFi app or launching a token, you need SAMA approval before you even announce it. And if you’re thinking of using an offshore exchange to bypass these rules? Don’t. SAMA has direct access to global blockchain data and can trace transactions back to local bank accounts. The days of anonymous crypto trading in Saudi Arabia are over.

Under these rules, tokenized real-world assets—like property or gold—are treated differently than speculative coins. That’s why you’ll see more activity around RWA tokenization, the process of turning physical assets into digital tokens on a blockchain in Saudi Arabia than around memecoins. The government wants investment, not gambling. That’s why projects like tokenized Treasuries or private credit funds get green lights, while anonymous airdrops get blocked.

So if you’re wondering why Saudi crypto looks so different from the wild west of crypto in other regions, it’s because SAMA crypto rules aren’t trying to be trendy. They’re trying to be safe. And in 2025, that’s the only way to stay in business.