Al-Sayari urges consistent crypto regulation and AI risk mitigation
Saudi Central Bank Governor Ayman Al-Sayari called for consistent global standards in crypto regulation and robust governance for AI in finance. He spoke at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting on October 15, 2025.
Closing the crypto regulatory gaps
Governor Al-Sayari addressed the ongoing regulatory and financial stability challenges from crypto assets and global stablecoins.
He noted that despite global progress in implementing regulatory frameworks, uneven adherence to FSB recommendations creates cross-border spillovers and potential arbitrage.
Al-Sayari emphasized the need for consistent adherence to global standards to mitigate fragmentation, safeguard market integrity, and strengthen confidence in the regulatory environment.
He urged G20 officials to prioritize sequencing innovation with regulation, ensuring that market developments do not outpace supervisory readiness.
Near-term efforts, he suggested, should focus on cross-border supervisory cooperation, information sharing, and alignment of prudential and conduct standards, particularly for emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs).
These efforts are crucial for monetary and financial stability while supporting responsible innovation.
Navigating AI's systemic risks
Al-Sayari also addressed the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across financial systems, commending the BIS, FSB, and World Bank Group for their comprehensive reports on the topic.
He underscored the need for strong governance, transparency, and accountability frameworks to mitigate systemic operational risk.
The Governor warned that the concentration of AI service providers amplifies systemic risk, as operational disruption and cyber-attacks at key modern providers could propagate through the financial system and become a systemic financial shock.
From a policy standpoint, he suggested jurisdictions should focus first on data integrity, model explainability, and ethical use principles, which he described as foundational to building trust in AI-enabled decision-making.
A timely call for global alignment
Al-Sayari's speech provides a crucial reminder of the persistent gap between financial innovation and regulatory readiness.
His emphasis on consistent global standards for crypto and robust AI governance highlights the cross-border urgency of these challenges.
This intervention is a timely call for proactive, unified regulatory action to safeguard global financial stability.