Government embraces crypto after years of resistance
In a major policy reversal, Pakistan has announced the creation of a government-led Bitcoin strategic reserve, marking a pivotal shift from its previous anti-crypto stance. The announcement was made by Bilal Bin Saqib, head of Pakistan’s Crypto Council, at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.
Inspired by U.S. crypto policies
Saqib stated that the decision was inspired by the United States’ growing support for digital assets under the Trump administration. “Today is a very historic day,” he told the audience. “The Pakistani government is setting up its own Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, and we want to thank the United States of America again because we were inspired by them.”
This move positions Pakistan among a growing list of countries exploring Bitcoin reserves as part of national financial strategies.
From ban to adoption: A dramatic crypto policy turnaround
Until recently, the Pakistani government had maintained a firm stance that cryptocurrencies would never be legalized. But this recent announcement signals a profound change in direction. In February 2025, Pakistan began exploring the formation of a National Crypto Council to craft a clear regulatory framework for digital assets and attract foreign crypto investment.
Bitcoin mining and energy repurposing initiatives
The Council has since proposed initiatives such as using excess energy for Bitcoin mining and establishing data centers for high-performance computing. In May 2025, the government allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus energy specifically for Bitcoin mining and related infrastructure.
Binance co-founder and Trump-linked DeFi protocol involved
Adding weight to the initiative, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao was appointed as an adviser to Pakistan’s Crypto Council in April. He is expected to support the country in developing blockchain infrastructure, refining crypto regulations, and boosting digital asset adoption.
Furthermore, on April 27, Trump’s World Liberty Financial (WLFI) — a decentralized finance protocol — signed a letter of intent to help Pakistan tokenize real-world assets, build DeFi architecture, and explore crypto use cases.
New digital asset regulator launched
To formalize and regulate the country’s growing interest in crypto, Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance recently commissioned the Digital Asset Authority, a new agency responsible for overseeing digital asset platforms, licensing crypto businesses, and enforcing regulatory compliance in the digital finance space.
