Saudi Arabia mBridge Exit Highlights Realities of Cross-Border Payment Diversification
Saudi Arabia's central bank ended its participation in the mBridge multi-CBDC platform after finishing a proof of concept in May 2025, according to an analysis published by the South China Morning Post citing the Financial Times. The project continues with participants including mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE, alongside the recent activation of the Monetary Authority of Macao. The author argues that payment diversification reflects practical settlement efficiency rather than an outright abandonment of the US dollar.

