Saudi Crypto Regulation: What You Can and Can't Do in 2025

When it comes to Saudi crypto regulation, the set of laws and policies governing cryptocurrency use, trading, and business operations in Saudi Arabia. Also known as Saudi cryptocurrency rules, it's not about banning crypto outright—it's about controlling how it flows through the economy. Unlike Qatar, which blocks all digital assets, Saudi Arabia is building a sandbox where crypto can operate—but only under strict supervision.

The Saudi Central Bank, the official monetary authority overseeing financial institutions and digital asset licensing in the Kingdom now requires all crypto exchanges operating in the country to hold a formal license. That means platforms like Binance or Bybit can’t just show up and start serving users. They need to prove they’ve got anti-money laundering systems, local bank partnerships, and real office space in Riyadh or Jeddah. The Financial Services Authority, the regulatory body enforcing crypto compliance under Saudi law also demands that all customer funds be kept separate from company assets. No pooling. No lending. No risky behavior.

For regular users, it’s a mixed bag. You can buy and hold Bitcoin or Ethereum through licensed platforms like BitOasis or Rain. But you can’t use them to pay for goods or services at local stores. And if you’re thinking of starting a crypto business? Forget anonymous mining rigs or DeFi staking farms. You need a legal entity, a physical office, and you’ll pay corporate tax on any profits. The government doesn’t want crypto to be a shadow economy—it wants it to be a controlled one. That’s why tokenized real-world assets, like property or gold, are getting more attention than altcoins. The RWA tokenization, the process of turning physical assets into digital tokens on a blockchain market is growing fast in the Kingdom, and regulators are pushing it hard.

There’s no official ban on crypto, but there’s a long list of things you simply can’t do. No unlicensed exchanges. No peer-to-peer trading with foreigners. No anonymous wallets for large transfers. And if you’re caught running a crypto mining operation without approval? You’ll face fines, equipment seizure, and possible legal action. The rules aren’t always public, but enforcement is getting tighter every quarter.

What you’ll find below are real, up-to-date guides on how Saudi residents and businesses are navigating these rules. From tax reporting tips to comparing licensed exchanges, from understanding how tokenized assets fit into the system to spotting scams that prey on confusion—this collection cuts through the noise. No theory. No guesswork. Just what’s working, what’s risky, and what’s outright forbidden in Saudi Arabia in 2025.