Government signals shift from informal crypto activity to a regulated, innovation-driven digital asset ecosystem.
Pakistan is preparing to anchor its future financial system on Bitcoin blockchain technology and regulated digital assets according to remarks from senior government official Bilal Bin Saqib at the Bitcoin MENA Conference. His comments mark a major shift for a country long known for one of the worldās largest unregulated crypto user bases.
Saqib, chair of the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) said Pakistan can no longer depend on legacy economic models, stressing that the nation needs āa new engineā for growth powered by digital innovation. He described Bitcoin and blockchain as infrastructure a foundation for a new financial rail across the global south, not speculative tools.
He highlighted Pakistanās demographic advantage, noting that 70% of its 240 million citizens are under 30, creating the scale to build a compliant, investment-ready crypto ecosystem. He argued that if El Salvador can integrate Bitcoin nationally with six million people, Pakistanās potential is exponentially greater.
Pakistanās crypto activity is already rising sharply. The country climbed to third in the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, reflecting its strong grassroots participation. This year, Pakistan announced plans for a strategic Bitcoin reserve allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus power for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, and opened licensing pathways for global crypto firms under its new federal regulatory regime.
Saqibās message signals Pakistanās pivot toward a structured, innovation-led digital asset economy, aiming to convert widespread informal usage into long-term national economic infrastructure.
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