Naver Expands Saudi Operations with AI and Stablecoin Ambitions Amid Crypto Ban
South Korea's Naver is deepening its footprint in Saudi Arabia, leveraging AI and smart city technologies while exploring stablecoin opportunities. The tech giant's discussions with Saudi officials highlight a strategic pivot toward digital finance and urban infrastructure, despite the Kingdom's restrictive stance on public cryptocurrency use.
Chairman Lee Hae-jin's meeting with Saudi Minister Majed Al-Hogail at Cityscape Global 2025 underscored Naver's ambitions beyond its existing digital twin projects. The talks focused on AI-driven urban systems, data centers, and financial technologies aligned with Saudi Vision 2030's modernization goals.
Naver's stablecoin aspirations face regulatory hurdles given Saudi Arabia's crypto ban. However, the company's fintech realignment and potential stock swap arrangements suggest persistent interest in digital asset innovation within the Kingdom's special economic zones.