# Saudi Arabia quits China's mBridge payments program

> A key U.S. ally abandons the blockchain alternative to dollar-based global finance, signaling pressure from Washington.
- Title: Saudi Arabia quits China's mBridge payments program · Pymnts
- Summary: A key U.S. ally abandons the blockchain alternative to dollar-based global finance, signaling pressure from Washington. Saudi Arabia's exit from mBridge…
- Keywords: saudi arabia, china, mbridge, cross-border payments, digital currencies, blockchain, central banks, dollar, swift, u.s. pressure, financial systems, business
- Source: Pymnts — https://pymnts.com/news/cross-border-payments/2026/saudi-arabia-exits-chinas-mbridge-cross-border-payments-program
- Author: PYMNTS
- Published: 2026-09-20T21:42:31+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: saudi arabia, china, mbridge, cross-border payments, digital currencies, blockchain, central banks, dollar, swift, u.s. pressure, financial systems, business
## Saudi Arabia exits mBridge program
Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from China's mBridge, a blockchain-based cross-border payments system that lets central banks transact directly using digital currencies. The kingdom confirmed its exit occurred in 2025.
## What mBridge does
mBridge uses blockchain to let central banks exchange money directly using their own digital currencies, cutting transaction time and costs while reducing the dollar's role as an intermediary. It's set for commercial launch soon.
## U.S. concerns about the program
Washington worries mBridge lets countries avoid dollar-dominated payment systems like Swift. President Trump has threatened BRICS nations with 100% tariffs if they pursue alternatives to the dollar.
## Saudi Arabia's limited involvement
A source told the Financial Times that drawing wider conclusions from Saudi Arabia's exit would be inaccurate, since the kingdom's involvement with mBridge was already limited. The government said leaving was always the plan.

> it would be "inaccurate to draw any wider inference" from the decision
## The tension for U.S. allies
Experts say U.S. allies see mBridge as economically beneficial but fear American pushback against anything that reduces dollar importance or boosts China's renminbi. Many are choosing caution over potential gains.

> backing off from such initiatives puts caution ahead of valour
## mBridge is growing despite exits
As of November 2025, mBridge had processed over 4,000 transactions totaling 55.49 billion dollars, up sharply from 160 transactions worth 22 million dollars in October 2022. The platform continues expanding despite geopolitical pressure.
## Key takeaway

Saudi Arabia's exit from mBridge shows how U.S. pressure on allies can slow the adoption of alternatives to dollar-dominated payment systems, even as these systems grow in transaction volume.