Saudi Central Bank Gains $60B Bitcoin Exposure via Stake in Strategy

In a major move signaling a shift in global reserve strategies, the Saudi Central Bank has acquired a stake in Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), indirectly exposing the Kingdom to Bitcoin—without holding the asset directly.

A recent U.S. SEC filing revealed that Saudi Arabia owns 25,656 shares in Strategy, which currently holds 568,840 BTC valued at nearly $60 billion. This makes Saudi Arabia one of the first in the MENA region to gain institutional exposure to Bitcoin.

The investment echoes the approach taken by Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, which also invests in crypto-aligned firms like Strategy and Coinbase rather than directly acquiring cryptocurrency.

Crypto adoption in Saudi Arabia is booming. According to Chainalysis, the Kingdom recorded 154% year-over-year growth, leading the Middle East in digital asset expansion. At its peak, Saudi Arabia had nearly 130,000 daily crypto users, surpassing the UAE.

Despite this rapid growth, Saudi Arabia has yet to establish a regulated domestic crypto exchange. However, its participation in cross-border CBDC projects, like mBridge with China, highlights its digital finance ambitions under Vision 2030.

The country’s youth-driven demographics, with two-thirds of Saudis under 30, further fuel its embrace of blockchain and fintech. This rising adoption, paired with institutional investments and global financial partnerships, positions Saudi Arabia as a future leader in the digital economy.