mBridge Plows On After Saudi Exit Amid US Dollar Tensions

Saudi Arabia quietly exited the China-led mBridge digital currency project in 2025, citing it as part of its original plan.

mBridge aims to facilitate faster cross-border payments and reduce reliance on the US dollar and SWIFT. Despite Saudi Arabia's withdrawal, the platform continues to expand and attract new participants, with the Monetary Authority of Macao joining in 2026.

The mBridge project has faced opposition from the US, which has threatened tariffs as high as 100% against BRICS countries that attempt to create a currency that replaces the US dollar in international transactions. However, mBridge's developers remain optimistic about its future, with the platform completing 23 cross-border transactions on its first day of operation.