Saudi Arabia Emerges as Leader in Tokenized Finance and AI Infrastructure

Saudi Arabia is rapidly positioning itself as a leader in tokenized finance and AI infrastructure, according to Faisal Monai, founder of SADAD's payments network. In an interview with Yellow.com, Monai described a future where stablecoins, tokenized assets, and AI-driven infrastructure converge into a new financial operating system.

Monai argued that global payment systems remain structurally inefficient, despite the internet era, and that this inefficiency has created demand for stablecoins and blockchain-based settlement systems capable of moving value instantly across borders. He pointed to recent U.S. stablecoin legislation as a signal that regulators are beginning to adapt to digital financial infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia's centralized regulatory structure has allowed the country to move faster than many Western jurisdictions in deploying tokenized financial products, Monai said. Regulators helped transform a tokenization concept into a licensed and regulated service in just nine months through a phased rollout approach.