SAMA focuses on digital currency tests for financial institutions

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) stated that it is currently focusing its studies and tests on digital currency intended for financial institutions.

It noted that experiments for the launch of cross-border central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are limited, and their results are not yet clear, Al Eqtisadiah newspaper reported.

In response to a question about the launch of a Saudi digital currency, SAMA said several central banks are dedicating their efforts to exploring the potential benefits, risks, and appropriate use cases for digital currencies.

The central bank confirmed that joining the Bank for International Settlements' (BIS) "mBridge" project, which focuses on testing the minimum viable product (MVP) for CBDCs, is a continuation of previous experiments in this area.

It added that the move aims to contribute to evaluating the feasibility of this type of digital currency and its risks to monetary and financial stability. In June, SAMA announced joining the BIS' mBridge project as a “full participant” in the MVP stage, according to data available with Argaam.