Open World Launches Saudi Arabia’s First RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence to Advance Vision 2030 Digital Economy Goals

Key Terms

rwa (real-world asset) tokenization financial

Tokenization of real-world assets turns physical or legal items—like real estate, bonds, or commodities—into digital tokens on a ledger that represent ownership or a claim. For investors this can act like splitting a house into many tradable shares: it can lower the cost to buy in, increase how quickly assets trade, and open new markets, while also introducing technology, legal and custody risks that affect value.

digital asset financial

A digital asset is a representation of value or rights that exists only in electronic form—like digital versions of cash, stocks, or collectibles kept in a virtual wallet. They are transferred and recorded using computer systems that make copying or tampering difficult, and can include currencies, tokenized shares, or unique digital items. Investors care because digital assets can offer new ways to diversify, trade and raise capital, but they also bring different risks around price swings, custody and regulation.

tokenization financial

Tokenization is the process of converting real-world assets or rights into digital tokens stored on a computer network. This allows assets, such as property or investments, to be divided into smaller parts, making them easier to buy, sell, or transfer electronically. For investors, tokenization can increase access to a wider range of investments and make transactions faster and more efficient.

sovereign bonds financial

Sovereign bonds are IOUs issued by a national government to borrow money, promising regular interest payments and to repay the loan amount at a set future date. For investors they act like a government-backed savings note: they are often used to preserve capital, generate steady income, and balance risk in a portfolio, while their yields reflect a country’s perceived creditworthiness and can move with economic or political changes.

stablecoins financial

Stablecoins are a type of digital currency designed to maintain a steady value, often linked to traditional currencies like the dollar or euro. They function like digital cash that offers the convenience of online transactions while avoiding the large price swings common with other cryptocurrencies. This stability makes them useful for investors and users who want a reliable way to store and transfer value without exposure to sudden market changes.

carbon reduction credits other

Carbon reduction credits are verified certificates that represent a measured decrease in greenhouse gas emissions—one credit typically equals one ton of CO2 avoided or removed. Think of them as tradeable coupons showing someone has lowered pollution, which companies can buy or sell to meet climate rules or voluntary targets. Investors care because these credits create new revenue streams, affect compliance costs, and signal operational or regulatory risk and opportunity tied to a company's environmental performance.

on-chain technical

On-chain describes actions or data that are recorded directly on a blockchain, a public digital ledger that creates a permanent, time-stamped record of transactions. For investors, on-chain activity provides verifiable evidence of transfers, ownership changes or automated program actions (like contract-driven payments); seeing these entries is like checking a bank statement and helps assess liquidity, settlement finality, fees, and transparency when judging risk and market behavior.

data residency technical

Data residency describes the country or region where a company stores and processes its digital information, shaped by local laws and technical choices. Think of it like deciding which filing cabinet in which country holds a company’s important papers — that choice affects legal obligations, privacy protections, costs and how easily the company can move or share information. Investors watch data residency because it can create regulatory risk, compliance costs and constraints on expansion or cloud strategy.

In-Kingdom operating entity to enable compliant digital asset innovation for sovereign and enterprise-scale initiatives under Saudi regulatory frameworks

AL KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Open World Ltd. (“Open World”), a blockchain infrastructure company with experience supporting large-scale digital asset initiatives, today announced the establishment of Saudi Arabia’s first RWA (Real-World Asset) Tokenization Center of Excellence. The news follows Open World’s announcement on January 5, 2026, regarding its plans to merge with VerifyMe, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRME) (“VerifyMe”), positioning the combined entity for participation in public markets as a leading infrastructure provider in the digital asset and tokenization sector.

The RWA Center of Excellence will operate as a fully licensed and, as regulations are defined, in-Kingdom entity designed to accelerate compliant digital asset innovation for sovereign, enterprise, and institutional clients across Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. The initiative will directly support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Financial Sector Development Program, which seeks to establish Saudi Arabia as a globally competitive financial and investment hub.

As the Saudi regulatory frameworks continue to mature, the Center of Excellence will enable compliant tokenization of real-world assets, including energy infrastructure, tokenized carbon reduction credits, real estate, sovereign bonds and, over time, regulated stablecoins. These initiatives will be launched on Open World’s sovereign and national-scale tokenization infrastructure introduced in December 2025 through its partnership with Abstract. This will provide Saudi enterprises and government entities new pathways to access global capital markets while maintaining full regulatory compliance with Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and Capital Market Authority (CMA) requirements.

“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. Our goal 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.”

Initial focus areas for the Center of Excellence include certain types of energy asset tokenization, real estate development financing, and the on-chain verification and storage of carbon reduction credits. The Center has been structured to meet sovereign-grade delivery standards, with a strong emphasis on data residency, local security controls and national economic considerations aligned with the Kingdom’s localization objectives.

“Welcoming Open World to Al Khobar represents a significant step in our region’s digital transformation journey,” said Dr. Salman Salem Al Khaldi, member of the Industry and Energy Committee at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The Eastern Province is home to Saudi Aramco, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran Techno Valley and the Kingdom’s largest concentration of energy assets, making it the ideal location to pioneer real-world asset tokenization. This initiative aligns perfectly with Vision 2030’s goal to develop our financial sector and diversify our economy beyond traditional energy exports.”

The RWA Center of Excellence is expected to commence full operations in 2026, with initial pilot projects targeted for mid-year launch. Open World has established the necessary legal, licensing, commercial and technological infrastructure required to operate directly within Saudi Arabia’s regulatory environment.

To support growing institutional adoption in Saudi Arabia, Open World said it plans to work with financial institutions, government entities and regulators to develop frameworks for investor protection, regulatory clarity and standardized tokenization practices, with strategic partnership announcements expected throughout 2026.

About Open World Ltd.
Open World has been a major driving force behind many of the most iconic projects in blockchain. Given its expertise, Open World is now expanding its offerings to traditional finance (TradFi). Open World has facilitated the inception and growth of more than 20 companies since 2023 and has helped launch over $65 billion in aggregate network value since (at peak FDV). Open World advises founding teams as they navigate the most complex intersections of financial regulatory, tokenomics, public markets, exchange strategy and governance structuring. The teams Open World advises are partners with leading venture capital firms, including a16z, Multicoin Capital, Dragonfly and Founders Fund. The firm’s range of services includes token launch advisory, DATs and TradFi strategies, RWA tokenization, stablecoin issuance, policy advocacy and strategic advisory work. To learn more, visit https://www.openworld.dev.

About VerifyMe, Inc.
VerifyMe provides specialized logistics for time and temperature-sensitive products, as well as brand protection and enhancement solutions. To learn more, visit https://www.verifyme.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “become,” “expected,” “plans,” “upon,” “will,” and similar expressions, as they relate to Open World and VerifyMe, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include the uncertainty of whether Open World and VerifyMe will enter into a merger agreement and, if they do enter into a merger agreement, that the merger will close. Additionally, the expected benefits of the merger may not be realized. These risk factors and uncertainties include those more fully described in VerifyMe’s Annual Report and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including under the heading entitled “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Additional Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It
This document includes discussion related to a proposed transaction between Open World and VerifyMe. In connection with the proposed transaction, if the parties enter into a merger agreement, VerifyMe intends to file a proxy statement, and, if required by the definitive merger agreement, a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC relating to the proposed transaction. After concluding the SEC comment process, and, if applicable, the registration statement is declared effective, VerifyMe will mail a definitive proxy statement, and, if applicable, a prospectus, to its stockholders. VerifyMe will also file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC.

Investors and securityholders are urged to read the proxy statement and any prospectus, and other relevant documents filed with the SEC carefully when they become available, because they will contain important information about Open World, VerifyMe, and the proposed transaction.

Copies of the proxy statement and any prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by VerifyMe will be available free of charge on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov and on VerifyMe’s website at https://vrmeinvestor.com/ or by written request to VerifyMe at VerifyMe, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 801 International Parkway, Fifth Floor, Lake Mary, Florida 32746.

Participants in the Solicitation
Open World and VerifyMe and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed under SEC rules to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from VerifyMe’s stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. If the parties enter into a merger agreement, a list of the names of the directors and executive officers of VerifyMe and information regarding their interest in the proposed merger will be contained in the proxy statement and any prospectus when available. Additional information regarding the interests of the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of VerifyMe’s stockholders in connection with the proposed merger, including the names and interests of Open World’s directors and executive officers, will be set forth in the proxy statement and any prospectus for the proposed merger, which is expected to be filed by Open World and VerifyMe with the SEC after the parties enter into a merger agreement.

No Offer or Solicitation
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under applicable securities laws.

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Media

Company: Open World Ltd.

Email: openworld@wachsman.com

Company: VerifyMe, Inc.

Email: IR@verifyme.com

Source: Open World Ltd.