The Rise of Cryptocurrencies in Arab Countries: Understanding Saudi Arabia's Latest Move
cryptonews.comWith cryptocurrencies increasingly gaining a foothold across the Arab world, some industry analysts are examining how Saudi Arabia’s plan to join China’s New Development Bank, also known as the BRICS bank, could impact on diversifying the kingdom’s financial environment.
Saudi Arabia is in talks to secure a membership in the Shanghai-based lender which was set up by the world’s largest developing economies, the so-called BRICS countries which include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, The Financial Times reported.
Should Riyadh gain access to the New Development Bank, the move would open up new funding options to the kingdom as an alternative to Western-dominated financial institutions. The talks on embarking Saudi Arabia as the bank’s ninth member come as the NDB is readying to kick off a formal evaluation of its funding options. Those have been thrown into question as a result of Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine.
The Shanghai-based bank holds its annual meeting today and on June 7.
Established in 2015, the NDB has lent more than $33 billion to some 96 projects in the five founding BRICS states. Since then, the initiative has also accepted three additional developing countries as its members: Bangladesh, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabian officials did not provide a comment on the reported talks.
"The kingdom’s investigation into alternative financial systems is seen in the rumored negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS. While obstacles still exist, a well-regulated and informed strategy can help unlock the promise of cryptocurrencies and support the economic development and stability of Arab countries,” wrote an analyst for
Read more on cryptonews.com
