Pakistan | Crypto

Pakistan is considering a rupee-backed stablecoin and a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to expand financial inclusion. Pakistan is considering launching a rupee-backed stablecoin, as experts warn that delays in regulating digital assets could cost the country up to $25 billion in lost economic opportunities. Speaking at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Conference on Friday, Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) President Zafar Masud said the nation could unlock $20–$25 billion in crypto-related growth, according to a report by local news outlet Daily Times. Masud pointed out the booming global stablecoin market, adding that Pakistan is “seriously considering a rupee-backed stablecoin” and that a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) could improve financial access while reducing remittance costs. Read more

Pakistan is considering a rupee-backed stablecoin and a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to expand financial inclusion. Pakistan is considering launching a rupee-backed stablecoin, as experts warn that delays in regulating digital assets could cost the country up to $25 billion in lost economic opportunities. Speaking at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Conference on Friday, Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) President Zafar Masud said the nation could unlock $20–$25 billion in crypto-related growth, according to a report by local news outlet Daily Times. Masud pointed out the booming global stablecoin market, adding that Pakistan is “seriously considering a rupee-backed stablecoin” and that a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) could improve financial access while reducing remittance costs. Read more

Fintech startup ZAR aims to use Pakistan’s corner stores and kiosks to make stablecoins accessible to millions of unbanked citizens. Venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is leading a $12.9 million funding round for ZAR, a one-year-old fintech startup aiming to make dollar-backed stablecoins accessible to everyday consumers in Pakistan and other emerging markets. The round drew participation from Dragonfly Capital, VanEck Ventures, Coinbase Ventures and Endeavor Catalyst, according to a Tuesday report by Bloomberg. The startup is targeting Pakistan’s 240 million people, where the World Bank estimates over 100 million adults remain unbanked. Unlike many crypto companies focused on apps or global exchanges, ZAR plans to distribute stablecoins through local stores, phone kiosks and money agents, the same network used for mobile top-ups and remittances. Read more

Pakistan has invited international crypto firms to apply for licenses under its regulatory authority PVARA, with strict criteria and global compliance standards. Pakistan has opened the door to international crypto businesses, inviting leading exchanges and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to apply for licenses under a new federal regime. On Saturday, the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) called on major crypto firms to submit Expressions of Interest (EoIs) to enter the country’s digital asset market, according to a report by local news outlet Dawn. “This EoI is our invitation to the world’s leading VASPs to partner in building a transparent and inclusive digital financial future for Pakistan,” said Bilal bin Saqib, PVARA chair and minister of state for crypto and blockchain. Read more

A young and tech-savvy population, combating inflationary pressures, is driving Bitcoin adoption and a new financial system in Pakistan. Pakistan’s demographics position the country as a major catalyst for Bitcoin (BTC) adoption, allowing it to “leapfrog” developed nations, according to Bilal Bin Saqib, Pakistan’s state minister of crypto and blockchain. “A global policy shift has happened, not just in Pakistan, but all around the world,” Bin Saqib told Cointelegraph in an exclusive interview. The government of Pakistan moved to regulate crypto in November 2024. The country has 40 million crypto wallets and is one of the “top five” countries in terms of crypto adoption, which the minister attributed to Pakistan’s young demographic. He told Cointelegraph: Read more

Pakistan and El Salvador have formed diplomatic ties with cryptocurrency cooperation at the core. Islamabad has planned a national Bitcoin reserve, a 2 GW mining allocation and a dedicated regulator, while San Salvador has continued state Bitcoin purchases under its IMF programme. The post Pakistan and El Salvador Strengthen Diplomatic Ties With New Crypto Alliance appeared first on Cryptonews.

Pakistan and El Salvador have formalized diplomatic relations for the first time, anchoring the partnership on crypto collaboration and digital asset development, according to a July 16 announcement. The presser followed a meeting in San Salvador between Bilal Bin Saqib, special assistant to Pakistan’s prime minister on crypto and blockchain, and El Salvador’s President Nayib […] The post El Salvador, Pakistan inaugurate diplomatic relations to collaborate on digital assets appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Pakistan has established the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to oversee and regulate the country’s crypto sector. Pakistan’s federal government has launched the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), a new body tasked with overseeing the country’s digital asset industry. According to a Tuesday report by English-language local news outlet Dawn, PVARA will operate as an independent regulator tasked with licensing, monitoring and supervising virtual assets service providers. It will also ensure compliance with international standards, including alignment with guidelines from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The report follows a late May announcement by Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance, which endorsed the creation of the regulatory body. Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, said that the country “must regulate not just to catch up, but to lead.” Read more

Pakistan’s crypto czar, Bilal Bin Saqib, isn’t content letting the nation’s Bitcoin stash sit idle — he wants it generating returns. Pakistans crypto czar Bilal Bin Saqib burst into the headlines in late May by announcing live on stage at Bitcoin 2025 that the country will establish a Bitcoin Reserve. Saqib, Pakistans crypto minister and CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, tells Magazine a discussion with Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor made him feel even more certain about the decision. Saqib said that while he was already smitten with Bitcoin before, he felt reinvigorated like hed been orange-pilled all over again. Read more

Michael Saylor, the billionaire Bitcoin advocate and executive chairman of Strategy, is backing Pakistan’s state-led Bitcoin pivot, according to new footage and media reports emerging from Islamabad. A call with top officials marks the latest escalation in Pakistan’s plan to formalize a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). The video footage, posted on X by Finance Ministry […] The post Pakistan building Bitcoin ‘super team’ with Michael Saylor joining CZ on crypto council appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Can Bitcoin solve the energy crisis in Pakistan? 2,000 MW Mining Plan As of March 2025, Pakistan boasted an installed power capacity of 46,600 MW, a slight increase from the previous year. Almost 14% of this capacity remains idle, especially during off-peak winter months when demand can drop as low as 12,000 MW. The core issue here lies in capacity payments, fixed fees paid to power plants regardless of whether they produce electricity, which have soared as high as 2.1 trillion Pakistan rupees($7.45 billion) annually. Read more

Pakistan’s Crypto Minister Bilal Bin Saqib is pursuing high-level US partnerships with figures like Cantor Fitzgerald’s Brandon Lutnick and NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Pakistan Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain Bilal Bin Saqib is likely looking to collaborate with Wall Street. A June 6 X post by the Pakistan Crypto Council shows that Saqib met with Brandon Lutnick, the chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, a global financial services firm. A separate video included in a separate post shows that he also met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who recently said he will ensure a Bitcoin bond is launched in the city. The post reads: The meeting with Lutnick follows his firm’s recently increased interest in crypto. The two reportedly discussed “tokenization, Bitcoin mining, Pakistan’s Web3 future and avenues of collaboration.” Read more

Pakistan’s crypto minister met with Trump’s digital asset leadership to promote cross-border cooperation and outline Bitcoin-powered infrastructure plans. Pakistan’s minister of state for crypto and blockchain, Bilal Bin Saqib, met with Robert “Bo” Hines, executive director of US President Donald Trump’s Council on Digital Assets, during a visit to the White House. The meeting focused on boosting cooperation between Pakistan and the United States in the digital assets space. Discussions covered a broad range of topics, including Bitcoin (BTC), potential partnerships and the future of decentralized finance, according to a report by 24NewsHD TV. One key area of dialogue was Pakistan’s newly announced Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. “It is my mission to position Pakistan as a global leader in digital assets,” Saqib said after the meeting. Read more

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants Pakistan to urgently clarify its plans for allocating power to Bitcoin mining amid the country’s electricity shortages and fiscal problems, according to a local news report. The IMF delegation is expected to hold a separate virtual session with Pakistan’s Finance Ministry to specifically discuss the electricity allocation. Last week, […] The post IMF asks for urgent clarification from Pakistan over 2,000MW power allocation to Bitcoin mining appeared first on CryptoSlate.

IMF questions Pakistan’s plan to allocate 2,000 megawatts of electricity for Bitcoin mining amid energy shortages and budget talks. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns over Pakistan’s decision to allocate 2,000 megawatts of electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers amid ongoing negotiations tied to the country’s extended financial program. The initiative, announced last week, is designed to attract autonomous miners, blockchain companies, and AI firms to Pakistan. However, the IMF has raised red flags about the move, requesting urgent clarification from the Finance Ministry regarding the legality of crypto mining and the power allocations, particularly as the nation struggles with chronic energy shortages and fiscal pressures, according to a report by local news outlets Samaa. Read more

At Bitcoin 2025, Bilal Bin Saqib—the crypto assistant to the prime minister—announced that Pakistan is plotting its own Bitcoin reserve.

The move represents a significant shift from the Pakistani government's earlier position that cryptocurrencies would never be legalized. Bilal Bin Saqib, head of Pakistan’s crypto council, announced on May 28 that the country is moving to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Saqib said the government of Pakistan followed the United States’ lead in establishing a Bitcoin strategic reserve and is embracing pro-crypto regulatory policies. The government official told the audience: The announcement represents a significant departure from the government of Pakistan’s previous stance on cryptocurrencies, holding that crypto would never be legal in the country. Read more

Pakistan will allocate 2,000 megawatts of electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. According to a Bloomberg report, the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) overseeing the project confirmed that three underutilized coal-powered plants, currently operating at just 15% capacity, will be repurposed to support this initiative. This development is part of the government’s […] The post Pakistan to allocate 2,000 MW for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib as special assistant on blockchain and crypto. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib as his special assistant on blockchain and crypto. Saqib’s appointment takes effect immediately under Rule 4(6) of the Rules of Business, 1973. He has been granted the status of minister of state and will serve without salary or official benefits, according to a May 26 report in the English-language local news outlet, Pakistan Observer. The move follows a series of government initiatives aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s presence in the digital asset space. Just one day prior, Pakistan allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity exclusively for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence centers. Read more

Pakistan has allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure, aiming to attract foreign investment. Pakistan has allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity exclusively for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence centers. The move is part of a broader digital transformation plan spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council and backed by the Ministry of Finance, according to a May 25 report by local news outlet 24NewsHD TV Channel. In the first phase, the government plans to channel excess power into AI infrastructure and crypto mining operations. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the decision is expected to attract billions in foreign investment while generating high-tech employment across the country. Read more