Pakistan announces Bitcoin strategic reserve

Pakistan’s embrace of Bitcoin marks a significant shift in its cryptocurrency policy. On May 28th, 2025, Bilal Bin Saqib, head of Pakistan’s crypto council, announced the establishment of a government-led Bitcoin strategic reserve at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas. This decision, inspired by the United States’ approach, represents a complete reversal of Pakistan’s previous stance against cryptocurrency legalization.

Saqib’s announcement highlighted a pivotal moment, stating, “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.” This bold move follows a series of pro-crypto initiatives undertaken by the Pakistani government.

The groundwork for this announcement was laid earlier in 2025. In February, the government established a National Crypto Council to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework and attract foreign investment. The council proposed several initiatives, including utilizing excess energy for Bitcoin mining and incorporating Bitcoin into the national treasury. In May, 2000 megawatts of excess energy were allocated to Bitcoin mining and data centers, reflecting the government’s commitment to this new policy.

Further solidifying this commitment, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao was appointed as an advisor to the council in April, offering expertise in crypto regulations, blockchain infrastructure, and digital asset adoption. Furthermore, Trump’s World Liberty Financial (WLFI) signed a letter of intent in April to assist Pakistan in tokenizing real-world assets and developing DeFi infrastructure. Finally, in May 2025, a new Digital Asset Authority was created to regulate crypto platforms and license digital asset providers operating within the country.

This series of events demonstrates Pakistan’s proactive approach to integrating cryptocurrency into its financial system, mirroring a global trend influenced by the regulatory shift in the United States under the Trump administration. The establishment of the Bitcoin strategic reserve signals a significant step towards national adoption of Bitcoin and underscores the growing global acceptance of cryptocurrencies.