Cryptocurrency Law in Saudi Arabia: What’s Allowed, What’s Banned in 2025

When it comes to cryptocurrency law in Saudi Arabia, the legal framework governing digital assets under Saudi regulatory authorities. Also known as crypto regulations in the Kingdom, it’s no longer a gray area—what you can and can’t do with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any token is now clearly defined by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA). Unlike countries that banned crypto outright or let it run wild, Saudi Arabia took a middle path: allow trading and investment, but lock down payments, exchanges, and anonymity.

The big shift came in 2024, when SAMA officially recognized crypto as a regulated investment asset, a digital financial instrument subject to licensing and oversight by the CMA. This means you can legally buy, hold, and sell crypto through licensed platforms—but you can’t use it to pay for coffee, rent, or groceries. crypto taxation Saudi Arabia, the official rulebook for reporting crypto gains and losses to the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. Also known as crypto capital gains tax, it’s now mandatory for anyone making over 10,000 SAR in annual crypto profits to file a return. No more guessing. No more hiding. And if you run a crypto exchange or wallet service in the Kingdom? You need a full CMA license. Unlicensed platforms? They’re blocked. Period.

What about mining? Right now, it’s not illegal—but it’s not encouraged either. There’s no clear tax benefit, and the government’s focus is on the digital riyal, not decentralized networks. Wallets? You can use them, but only if they’re non-custodial and you keep your own keys. If a local exchange holds your crypto, they must follow strict AML rules, including KYC for every user. No anonymous trading. No offshore wallets bypassing Saudi rules. And forget about DeFi protocols or unlicensed airdrops—they’re not recognized, and any losses won’t be protected.

If you’re thinking about entering the Saudi crypto market, you’re not just dealing with technology—you’re dealing with state policy. The rules are tight, but they’re stable. That’s better than the chaos you see in places where laws change weekly. What you’ll find in the posts below are real cases: exchanges that got shut down, scams that fooled locals, and the one legal airdrop that actually paid out. No hype. No guesses. Just what’s working, what’s banned, and what you need to know before you touch a single coin.