Pakistan’s push to turn out to be a worldwide crypto chief took a big activate March 21 when Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Crypto Council of Pakistan, advised harnessing the nation’s surplus vitality for Bitcoin mining.
This proposal, shared in the course of the council’s first official gathering, is a part of a broader technique to place Pakistan as a hub for cryptocurrency innovation.
The assembly introduced collectively key figures, together with high-ranking officers from Pakistan’s monetary sector and authorities. Alongside discussing vitality utilization, the council can also be engaged on making a regulatory framework geared toward drawing overseas funding and guaranteeing the nation stays aggressive within the quickly evolving digital asset sector.
Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted that this initiative indicators a brand new course for Pakistan’s financial system, aiming to construct a contemporary, clear monetary ecosystem that advantages its youth and secures the nation’s place on the worldwide tech map.
This shift marks a notable change from the federal government’s earlier stance, notably following the robust anti-crypto rhetoric from former finance minister Aisha Ghaus Pasha, who in Could 2023, made it clear that the federal government would by no means legalize crypto, citing issues over anti-money laundering compliance below worldwide requirements akin to these from the Monetary Motion Activity Pressure (FATF).
Nonetheless, Pakistan shouldn’t be alone in its evolving stance on digital currencies. The nation’s current transfer to manage cryptocurrencies coincided with world tendencies, notably within the U.S., the place related actions have been taken. After the re-election of President Donald Trump in November 2024, the U.S. shortly moved to undertake crypto-friendly insurance policies. In January 2025, Trump signed an government order to create the Working Group on Digital Property, specializing in complete digital asset rules and prohibiting the event of a U.S. central financial institution digital foreign money (CBDC). Moreover, the U.S. authorities has been working to determine a strategic Bitcoin reserve, reflecting the rising significance of digital property globally.