Saudi Central Bank Governor Calls for Unified Regulation of Crypto and AI in Finance

At the recent G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Washington DC, Saudi Central Bank Governor Ayman Al-Sayari addressed pressing challenges facing the global financial sector, focusing particularly on the regulation of crypto assets and artificial intelligence.

Al-Sayari highlighted that while global progress has been made in developing frameworks for crypto assets and stablecoins, inconsistent adoption of these standards poses significant risks, especially through regulatory gaps and cross-border financial spillovers. He stressed the necessity for countries to collectively prioritize consistent regulation, ensuring that financial innovation does not outpace supervisory readiness. Strengthening cross-border cooperation, sharing information, and aligning standards across jurisdictions—particularly for emerging and developing economies—were identified as immediate priorities to safeguard financial stability and market integrity.

The governor also drew attention to the growing integration of artificial intelligence within the financial system. He emphasized the heightened need for robust governance, transparency, and accountability as AI continues to reshape the sector. In addition, he warned that dependence on a small number of service providers increases systemic risk, as disruptions or cyber-attacks could have widespread effects. To build trust in AI-driven decision-making, Al-Sayari recommended a policy emphasis on data integrity, transparent model operation, and ethical principles.

This call to action highlights the critical importance of unifying regulatory approaches to both digital assets and AI, ensuring that global financial systems remain resilient, transparent, and trustworthy in a rapidly evolving landscape.