Pakistan launches first govt-backed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Pakistan has announced launch of its first state-backed Bitcoin strategic reserve. The announcement of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was made by Bilal Bin Saqib, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain and Crypto, and CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), reported 24NewsHD TV on Thursday.

The announcement took place during Bitcoin Vegas 2025 held in Las Vegas where Bilal Bin Saqib addressed an elite audience which included US Vice-President JD Vance and several members of Trump family and specifically thanked Donald Trump for his contributions to end the conflict between Pakistan and India. He appreciated the former US President's efforts in promoting crypto adoption and maintaining peace amid recent India-Pakistan tensions.

Pakistan currently has 40 million crypto wallets and is considered one of the world’s largest and most active freelance economies.

During his address, Bilal Bin Saqib also announced the creation of a National Bitcoin Wallet which will hold digital assets already in state custody.

In the initial phase, the government has allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centres. This initiative is expected to open doors for independent miners, tech companies, and international blockchain firms.

Pakistan also announced the formation of a Digital Assets Authority to regulate blockchain-based financial infrastructure, according to sources.

Pakistan and Bitcoin, both victims of bad PR.
Called risky. Unstable. Dangerous.

But the headlines miss the truth.
Look closer and you’ll see:
Talent. Resilience. Potential.

With a young, crypto-savvy population and a forward-looking government, Pakistan isn’t the problem. We… pic.twitter.com/fKbPQYDCBl

— Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (@PakistanVARA) May 29, 2025

Bilal Bin Saqib was recently appointed as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Crypto and Blockchain, with the status of a minister of state. He has been on a tour of the United States seeking investment in Pakistan’s crypto markets.

Addressing the Bitcoin Vegas, he said “Pakistan is no longer defined by its past. It is being reborn as a forward-looking hub of digital innovation — powered by its youth, sharpened by necessity, and led by a new generation of tech statesmen.”

Saqib added “I’m not just here as a minister. I’m here as the voice of a generation — a generation that is online, on-chain, and unstoppable.”

A statement issued by Saqib’s office said that he was leading the creation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) — a regulatory body designed to empower builders, protect investors, and formalise digital finance frameworks for the future.

“Both Pakistan and bitcoin have suffered from bad PR,” Saqib declared. “But if you look past the headlines, you’ll see something else: talent, resilience, and vision.”

He called on global crypto builders to come and invest in Pakistan. “If you’re building something real — come build it in Pakistan. Come build wallets for the unbanked. Come tokenise land. Come scale your mission with our youth and our unstoppable grit.”

During his keynote, Saqib delivered a “blueprint for the future of emerging markets in Web3 that positions Pakistan as a tech-forward, youth-powered, and opportunity-rich nation ready to lead,” the statement concluded.

On February 25, the government had announced it was considering establishing a National Crypto Council to adopt emerging digital currencies in line with global trends. In March, it had appointed Saqib as the chief adviser to the finance minister on the PCC and later made him the Council’s CEO.
Reporter Ahmed Mansoor