Pakistan is giving cryptocurrencies and Blockchain technology their strongest political backing to date. According to Minister Bilal Bin Saqib, bitcoin and digital assets should become the foundation of the country’s new financial system. For a nation of roughly 240 million people, this marks a major shift from informal crypto usage toward a regulated and innovation-driven sector.

Saqib made the remarks during a roundtable at the Bitcoin MENA conference in Abu Dhabi. He argued that Pakistan can no longer rely on traditional economic models and needs a “new engine” for growth. Digital assets and Blockchain, he said, represent the core infrastructure of the future.

A young population as a strategic advantage

Demographics are one of the government’s strongest arguments. Around 70 percent of Pakistan’s population is under 30, creating ideal conditions for building a modern digital ecosystem. According to Saqib, the country has both the scale and technological potential to move beyond being a late adopter and become an active player in the global crypto industry.

“My message is simple. If El Salvador could do it with six million people, imagine what Pakistan can achieve with forty times the population and one of the fastest-growing digital communities in Asia,” the minister said.

Pakistan among global crypto adoption leaders

Data supports the narrative. In the Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index 2025, Pakistan climbed six positions and now ranks third worldwide for the fastest crypto adoption. Until now, most activity has taken place outside a clearly defined regulatory framework.

That is set to change. In May, Saqib announced plans to establish a strategic bitcoin reserve and move toward a distinctly pro-crypto regulatory approach. The same month, the government allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for bitcoin mining and AI data centers, as part of a broader digital transformation strategy.

Energy investment and jobs

Financial officials say using excess electricity could attract foreign investors and create new jobs in advanced technologies. The combination of cryptocurrencies artificial intelligence and infrastructure is expected to help Pakistan monetize resources that have so far gone unused.

Another step toward formalizing the market came in September, when Pakistan opened the door to global crypto companies. Foreign exchanges and service providers were invited to apply for licenses under a new federal regulatory regime. Regulator PVARA officially issued a call for expressions of interest from major market players.

Bitcoin as the financial rails of the future

Pakistan is making it clear that it wants to move cryptocurrencies from the fringes of the economy to its very center. Bitcoin and Blockchain are envisioned as the new financial rails on which the future economy will run. If these ambitious plans succeed, Pakistan could emerge as one of the leading crypto hubs among emerging markets.

Whether the country can balance rapid adoption with effective regulation will become clear in the coming months. The signal to investors and the global crypto industry, however, is already unmistakable: digital assets are no longer an experiment, but a strategic pillar of Pakistan’s economic vision.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6voRNhGj4cM

https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2025-global-crypto-adoption-index/

https://24newshd.tv/25-May-2025/pakistan-reserves-2-000-megawatts-of-power-for-bitcoin-mining

https://www.dawn.com/news/1941811/pakistan-seeks-partners-for-digital-future