AAOIFI-aligned, not certification theater

Aligned is the honest word

Some crypto products advertise as "AAOIFI Standard 21 Compliant" or "AAOIFI-aligned spot-trading principles Compliant." We do not. AAOIFI publishes Shariah Standards; it does not certify crypto trading platforms.

Literal AAOIFI compliance would overstate the claim. Our framework uses AAOIFI as the primary methodology. Reviewers remain responsible for applying those standards to crypto assets.

Aligned is the honest word. It signals fidelity to a published methodology without implying formal AAOIFI certification. It also travels across jurisdictions where AAOIFI adoption differs.

8+ references. One published screen.

We use AAOIFI-aligned principles as the anchor and cross-check across major Muslim markets. No single local body should define a global product.

1. AAOIFI Shariah Standards

AAOIFI is a primary international reference for Islamic finance standards. We treat AAOIFI-published standards as a starting point when those standards address the issue.

2. Mufti Taqi Usmani scholarship

Public Islamic-finance scholarship from Mufti Taqi Usmani adds Pakistan-rooted global reasoning. It helps cross-check riba, gharar, sale, ownership, and possession questions.

3. MUI Indonesia

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim market. MUI and DSN-MUI guidance add a necessary Indonesian cross-check for crypto and financial-product framing.

4. Malaysia SAC

Malaysia's Securities Commission SAC has published digital-asset Shariah resolutions. That adds capital-markets precedent for token screening, trading venues, and disclosure discipline.

5. Saudi Permanent Committee for Ifta

Saudi Permanent Committee guidance remains useful on riba, gharar, maysir, qabd, and novel financial instruments. It is one source in the spread, not the whole framework.

Four gates every coin must clear

Every coin in our universe must pass four independent gates. Failing one gate excludes the coin until the issue is resolved.

A halal verdict can expire

A halal screen is not a one-time stamp; Coins evolve; Stablecoin issuers change their reserve composition; DeFi protocols pivot revenue models. Networks shift from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake or vice versa. We treat the screen as a living state, not a historical decision.

• Gate 1 (business activity): continuous review. Major tokenomics, governance, or revenue changes trigger a re-screen within 48 hours.
• Gate 2 (financial ratios): quarterly refresh using on-chain treasury data and public reserve attestations.
• Gate 3 (execution): semi-annual review. Exchange listing or settlement changes trigger immediate review.
• Gate 4 (sanctions): automated daily refresh against OFAC, UN, EU, and equivalent lists.

If a coin moves from pass to fail, new entries stop immediately. Existing positions unwind in an orderly manner. Customers receive notice within 24 hours.

The method stays public

The full methodology is published at /halal-methodology; Per-coin verdicts and reasoning are at /is-coin-halal. We refuse to operate as a black box. Anyone — your imam, your scholar, your investment committee — can inspect the screen and challenge it.

That openness is the core of why we believe this framework is durable. Closed systems of religious certification have a poor track record. Transparent, reasoned, auditable systems hold up.

Questions worth asking

Citations

• AAOIFI — international Islamic finance standards body.
• Mufti Taqi Usmani — public Islamic-finance scholarship.
• MUI Indonesia and DSN-MUI — Indonesian fatwa and finance guidance.
• Malaysia SAC — digital-asset Shariah resolutions and status references.
• Saudi Permanent Committee for Ifta — published fatawa.