Saudi Central Bank’s Bold Move: Switches Oil Investments to MicroStrategy Bitcoin

Key Points

• The Saudi Central Bank has indirectly invested in Bitcoin through a stake in MicroStrategy.
• Other Gulf institutions like Mubadala are also increasing their Bitcoin investments.

The Saudi Central Bank has disclosed its indirect investment in Bitcoin (BTC) through its significant stake in Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy.

This move indicates a rising institutional interest in digital assets.

Saudi Central Bank’s Crypto Investment

Recent SEC filings reveal that the central bank now owns 25,656 shares of Strategy, a firm known for its innovative use of Bitcoin as a treasury reserve.

This investment effectively links a part of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth to the crypto market.

The Saudi Central Bank’s recent investment in Strategy is seen by the crypto community as a subtle endorsement of Bitcoin’s long-term potential.

Strategy has recently announced a bold expansion of its Bitcoin acquisition plan in its Q1 2025 earnings report, doubling its capital allocation to a staggering $84 billion.

Global Shift Towards Crypto

Traditionally, central banks have relied on gold and U.S. dollars to safeguard long-term value, but a subtle shift is emerging.

More countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, El Salvador, Iran, and Bhutan, are beginning to add Bitcoin to their national treasuries.

Following Norway’s sovereign wealth fund’s precedent, the Saudi Central Bank has also entered the digital asset arena, marking a significant move toward crypto exposure.

This move follows its 2024 involvement in a China-led digital currency trial, which many view as a strategic signal toward diversifying away from dollar-dominated oil trade systems and possibly laying the groundwork for broader crypto adoption within the Kingdom.

In addition to the Saudi Central Bank, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala, has also expanded its crypto footprint.

In its latest SEC filing, Mubadala revealed a $408.5 million investment in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, marking a significant increase from its prior holdings.

This rising institutional interest from the Gulf region underscores a broader strategic shift as influential financial entities reallocate capital toward Bitcoin exposure.