Saudi Arabia has a restricted regulatory stance on cryptocurrencies with no comprehensive crypto framework yet. The Capital Market Authority (CMA) launched a sandbox for digital assets in 2024 to explore regulatory approaches.
| Status | Restricted |
| Risk Score | 55/100 (High Risk) |
| Region | middle east |
| Currency | SAR |
| Capital Gains (Personal) | 0% - no personal income tax in Saudi Arabia |
| Capital Gains (Corporate) | 20% corporate income tax (Zakat at 2.5% for Saudi-owned entities); crypto trading gains treated as taxable income for corporate entities |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Staking Tax | No personal tax; corporate staking income subject to 20% CIT or 2.5% Zakat |
| Airdrop Tax | No personal tax on airdrops; corporate recipients subject to standard CIT |
No crypto-specific tax guidance available.
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | SAMA / CMA |
| Framework | Capital Market Authority Sandbox for Digital Assets |
| Ease | medium |
| Cost (USD) | $50,000 - $200,000 (sandbox participation estimated) |
No comprehensive licensing framework yet; sandbox launched in 2024 to test digital asset services under CMA supervision.
No detailed enforcement information available
| Status | Pilot |
| Name | mBridge |
| Issuing Authority | Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, People's Bank of China, United Arab Emirates Central Bank, Bank of Thailand |
| Model | wholesale |
| Technology | DLT |
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | Yes |
| FATF Member | Yes |
| FATF Status | compliant |
| FATF Body | FATF |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: Restricted
DeFi activities are restricted due to lack of clear regulatory framework and CMA oversight focusing on centralized digital asset services.
Status: Restricted
Stablecoins are restricted and subject to regulatory scrutiny under CMA's digital asset sandbox; no specific stablecoin framework yet.
Status: unregulated
| Legal | No |
| Electricity Cost | $0.048/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 1% |
| Infrastructure | good |
Crypto mining is restricted in Saudi Arabia due to regulatory and energy policy considerations. Electricity cost is relatively low but renewable energy share is minimal.
| Stability | stable |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 53/100 |
| Banking Access | restricted |
| Sanctions Program Active | Yes |
Risk Factors
Saudi Arabia is politically stable with moderate corruption levels. It is not under international sanctions but imposes its own sanctions programs. Banking access for crypto firms is restricted, and regional tensions pose risk factors.
Saudi Arabia has a restricted regulatory stance on cryptocurrencies with no comprehensive crypto framework yet. The Capital Market Authority (CMA) launched a sandbox for digital assets in 2024 to explore regulatory approaches.
Saudi Arabia is classified by FATF as: compliant.
Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.
KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-09-03 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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