Pakistan has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing crypto markets, climbing six places to rank third in Chainalysis' 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index.
Pakistan Crypto News
Pakistan aims to build its financial infrastruicture around Bitcoin and digital assets, positioning blockchain technology as the backbone for serving its 240 million citizens, according to statements from a senior government official.
Bilal Bin Saqib spoke at the Bitcoin MENA Conference on Tuesday, declaring Pakistan can no longer rely on traditional economic models. The chairman of Pakistan's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority and former special assistant to the prime minister on blockchain stated the country needs "a new engine" powered by digital assets.
"We see Bitcoin, digital assets, and blockchain not just as speculation but as infrastructure. Not as noise, but as a foundation of a new financial rail for the global south," Saqib said during a roundtable in Abu Dhabi. His mandate focuses on transforming one of the world's largest unregulated crypto markets into a compliant, investment-ready ecosystem.
Pakistan boasts a young population with 70% under age 30, providing the scale needed to build a regulated crypto ecosystem rather than remaining a late adopter, Saqib argued. "If El Salvador can do it with 6 million people, imagine what Pakistan can do with 40 times the population and one of the fastest growing digital forces in Asia," he stated.
Pakistan has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing crypto markets, climbing six places to rank third in Chainalysis' 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index. In May, Saqib announced the country is preparing to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve alongside more pro-crypto regulatory policies.
That same month, Pakistan allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers as part of its national digital transformation push. Financial officials say the plan intends to attract foreign investment and support high-tech jobs by directing excess power into AI and crypto infrastructure.
In September, Pakistan invited global crypto companies to apply for licenses under its new federal regulatory regime. The Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority issued a call for expressions of interest from major exchanges and service providers seeking market entry.
The remarks signal Pakistan's push to transform grassroots crypto activity into a compliant, innovation-driven sector anchored by Bitcoin and comprehensive digital asset regulation. The country's combination of large population, young demographics, and excess electricity capacity positions it uniquely among emerging crypto markets.
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