Saudi Arabia Bets on Digital Assets to Fuel Vision 2030

AL KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia – January 22, 2026 – In a significant move to accelerate its ambitious economic transformation, Saudi Arabia is now home to its first Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization Center of Excellence. Launched by blockchain infrastructure firm Open World Ltd., the center in Al Khobar aims to build a regulated bridge between the Kingdom’s vast physical assets and global digital capital markets, directly supporting the goals of Vision 2030.

The announcement comes as Open World advances its plan to merge with the NASDAQ-listed VerifyMe, Inc. (VRME), a strategic maneuver intended to create a publicly-traded powerhouse in the rapidly expanding digital asset infrastructure sector. This new Center of Excellence represents a concrete step in institutionalizing blockchain technology within one of the world's most influential economies.

A Digital Cornerstone for Vision 2030

The establishment of the RWA Center of Excellence is a calculated move aligned with Saudi Arabia's Financial Sector Development Program, a core component of Vision 2030. The program's objective is to diversify the nation's oil-dependent economy and establish the Kingdom as a globally competitive investment and finance hub. By creating a framework to convert tangible assets into tradable digital tokens, the initiative seeks to unlock new streams of liquidity and attract international investment.

"Saudi Arabia is leading the global conversation on how digital assets can be deployed in service of national economic priorities," said Matt Shaw, co-founder and CEO of Open World. "By establishing our Center of Excellence in Al Khobar, we are making a long-term commitment to build alongside Saudi partners, under Saudi regulations, with infrastructure that meets the Kingdom’s sovereign data and security requirements."

The choice of Al Khobar in the Eastern Province is highly strategic. The region is the heart of the Kingdom's energy sector, home to industry giant Saudi Aramco, the prestigious King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and the Dhahran Techno Valley innovation hub.

“The Eastern Province is home to Saudi Aramco... and the Kingdom’s largest concentration of energy assets, making it the ideal location to pioneer real-world asset tokenization,” noted Dr. Salman Salem Al Khaldi, a member of the Industry and Energy Committee at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He added that the initiative "aligns perfectly with Vision 2030’s goal to develop our financial sector and diversify our economy beyond traditional energy exports.”

Bridging Global Capital with Local Assets

At its core, the center will facilitate the tokenization of a wide array of assets, effectively creating digital representations of ownership that can be traded on a blockchain. Initial focus areas include energy infrastructure, real estate development financing, and the on-chain verification of carbon reduction credits. Over time, the scope is expected to expand to include sovereign bonds and regulated stablecoins.

This process promises to democratize investment in large-scale assets by enabling fractional ownership, making previously illiquid markets accessible to a broader pool of global investors. The global market for RWA tokenization is forecast to explode, with some projections estimating its value could reach nearly $9.5 trillion by 2030. By establishing this sovereign-grade infrastructure early, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself to capture a significant share of this emerging market.

The focus on carbon credits is particularly timely. With the Voluntary Carbon Market Co. in Saudi Arabia projecting the trade of 15 million credits in the coming year, tokenization offers a transparent and efficient mechanism for verification and trading, attracting institutional capital aligned with ESG mandates. Shaw’s vision is to "help transform Saudi Arabia’s tremendous real-world asset base into globally accessible, compliant digital instruments that attract international investment while ensuring value creation remains within the Kingdom.”

Navigating a Developing Regulatory Landscape

Open World is entering a regulatory environment that is both cautious and forward-looking. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) have historically issued warnings against speculative, unregulated cryptocurrencies. However, they are simultaneously exploring controlled applications of blockchain technology that align with national interests.

This includes SAMA's research into a central bank digital currency (CBDC) through initiatives like "Project Aber" with the UAE, and the CMA's ongoing work to establish a formal regulatory framework for the digital asset market. The RWA Center is designed to operate within this evolving landscape, positioning itself not as a disruptor but as a collaborative partner. Open World has stated its intention to work directly with regulators and financial institutions to help shape clear frameworks for investor protection and standardized tokenization practices.

The initiative will operate as a fully licensed, in-Kingdom entity, emphasizing compliance with local data residency and security controls. This approach is critical for gaining the trust of sovereign and institutional partners and ensuring the project's long-term viability as official regulations are defined and implemented.

The Sovereign-Grade Tech Backbone

Underpinning the entire initiative is a robust technological foundation built in partnership with Abstract, a next-generation blockchain provider. The platform is described as a quantum-resistant Zero-Knowledge (ZK) blockchain, or ZK-rollup, anchored to the Ethereum network. This architecture is specifically designed for the demands of national-scale systems.

The technology promises significant advantages: quantum resistance provides future-proof security against advanced computational threats; Zero-Knowledge proofs enable user and data privacy while maintaining verifiable integrity; and a throughput of over 10,000 transactions per second ensures the scalability required for high-volume financial markets. These features, combined with embedded policy controls, create what Open World calls "sovereign-grade" infrastructure.

This technological choice reflects a deep understanding of the requirements for handling sensitive national assets. It allows for the creation of programmable digital markets with unprecedented control over how capital is formed and moved, all while adhering to sovereign data and security protocols. Open World brings its own formidable experience to the table, having facilitated the launch of over $65 billion in aggregate network value across more than 20 blockchain companies since 2023.

With initial pilot projects slated for mid-2026 and full operations expected within the year, the RWA Center of Excellence is poised to become a real-world test case for the integration of digital assets into a national economy. The pending merger with VerifyMe further signals the project's ambition, potentially providing the combined entity with access to public markets and the capital needed to scale its vision. This venture in Al Khobar is more than just a new tech hub; it represents a foundational piece of Saudi Arabia's strategy to build a diversified and digitally-native economy for the future.