Pakistan to Establish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Mirroring US Crypto Approach

Highlights:

• Pakistan is establishing a government Bitcoin reserve modeled after the United States.
• The reserve will hold Bitcoin and not sell it for speculation purposes.
• Pakistan created a council and agency to boost crypto rules and innovation.

At the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Bilal bin Saqib, head of the Pakistan Crypto Council, said Pakistan is following the United States in establishing a Bitcoin (BTC) strategic reserve and adopting crypto-friendly regulations. Pakistan’s decision aligns with a global shift, as many nations adopt crypto-friendly rules following regulatory changes in the US under President Donald Trump.

Today, 🇵🇰 rewrites history.

At Bitcoin 2025 Vegas, Minister of Crypto and Blockchain @bilalbinsaqib announces that Pakistan will be setting up its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. pic.twitter.com/1vNjryqimf

— Pakistan Crypto Council (@cryptocouncilpk) May 29, 2025

Pakistan Reverses Crypto Ban with New Government-Led Bitcoin Reserve

The announcement marks a major shift in Pakistan’s crypto policy, as the government had previously stated digital assets would never be legalized.

Bilal bin Saqib stated:

“Today is a very historic day. Today, I announce the Pakistani government is setting up its own government-led Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, and we want to thank the United States of America again because we were inspired by them.”

The announcement did not explain how the reserve would be funded or how much Bitcoin it would include. However, Saqib stressed that the purpose is not for speculation. “We will be holding these Bitcoins and we will never, ever sell them,” he said.

Pakistan Builds Bitcoin Future with New Council and Digital Asset Authority

Pakistan’s announcement of a Bitcoin reserve comes after months of rapid progress in its cryptocurrency policy. The shift became clear in February 2025 when the country formed the National Crypto Council. The council creates strong regulatory rules and attracts foreign investment into the crypto sector. Strengthening Pakistan’s crypto goals, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao joined the Council as an adviser in April 2025. He will offer advice on crypto regulations, blockchain infrastructure, and strategies for adopting digital assets.

The Council has initiated several important projects, including allocating 2,000 megawatts of surplus energy specifically to power Bitcoin mining operations and high-performance computing data centers. This strategic decision highlights Pakistan’s firm dedication to positioning itself as a major player in the global Bitcoin mining industry.

In April, Pakistan signed a deal with World Liberty Financial, a firm linked to President Trump’s family. They will work on asset tokenization, stablecoins, and DeFi rules. The deal followed meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir.

To back its crypto goals, Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance set up a Digital Asset Authority. This new agency will manage licenses and rules for crypto platforms. It will create the legal framework needed for the wider use of digital assets. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the agency is key to making Pakistan a leader in financial innovation. The PDAA will not only oversee the market but also work on tokenizing state assets, issuing debt on the blockchain, and supporting decentralized finance development.

Pakistan has launched the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) to regulate its $25 billion informal crypto market and foster a secure digital asset ecosystem. #DigitalAssets #PDAA #Blockchain #Web3 #PakistanEconomy #CryptoRegulation pic.twitter.com/1SCX7Oh6fy

— Startup Pakistan (@PakStartup) May 21, 2025