Catenaa, Sunday, May 25, 2025-The Saudi Central Bank has gained an indirect exposure to Bitcoin worth nearly $60 billion by purchasing shares in Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy (MSTR), marking a notable shift in the Kingdom’s approach to reserve diversification.
A recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed the central bank’s stake of 25,656 shares in Strategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin with 568,840 BTC on its balance sheet.
The move positions Saudi Arabia alongside a growing list of sovereign entities leveraging equity stakes to gain crypto exposure.
The investment follows similar tactics by Norway’s sovereign wealth fund and comes amid explosive crypto growth in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia leads the MENA region in digital asset adoption, recording a 154% year-over-year surge, according to Chainalysis.
Peak daily user counts topped 129,000 in early 2024, outpacing the United Arab Emirates.
Despite this momentum, Saudi Arabia lacks a fully regulated crypto exchange framework. Analysts warn that without clear policy, regional competitiveness may be hindered.
Nevertheless, the Kingdom remains proactive. In 2024, it joined China in the mBridge initiative, a blockchain-powered cross-border payments system for oil trade.
Saudi Arabia’s investment also coincides with increased financial activity in Riyadh, with Goldman Sachs and Rothschild expanding their presence and backing blockchain initiatives. The Kingdom’s youthful, tech-savvy population—nearly two-thirds under 30—continues to drive grassroots crypto enthusiasm.
While the Strategy stake doesn’t indicate imminent direct Bitcoin holdings, it underscores Saudi Arabia’s evolving stance on digital assets as part of its broader Vision 2030 economic modernization agenda.
