Pakistan has taken a bold step towards transforming its economy and technology landscape by announcing the country’s first strategic Bitcoin reserve.

The announcement was made by crypto assistant to the prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, Bilal bin Saqib during the Bitcoin Vegas 2025 conference.

Addressing the international audience, Bilal bin Saqib highlighted Pakistan’s youthful demographic and growing presence in the crypto space. “Our youth are online and on-chain. Pakistan, with over 40 million crypto wallets and an average age of 23 years, is now being recognised for its future rather than its past,” he said.

Pakistan’s vibrant freelancing economy, which ranks among the world’s most dynamic, further strengthens the country’s position in the global digital arena.

The minister revealed that the government has launched a national Bitcoin wallet and allocated an additional 2,000 megawatts of electricity specifically for cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence data centres. These moves, he said, are designed to encourage autonomous miners, technology companies, and international blockchain firms to invest and innovate within Pakistan.

A major development announced was the formation of the Pakistan Digital Asset Authority (PDAA), which aims to regulate the country’s informal crypto market valued at more than $25 billion. Approved by the Ministry of Finance on May 21, the authority will oversee crypto exchanges, wallets, stablecoins, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. It will also promote the tokenisation of national assets and debt, ensuring compliance with international standards such as those set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“The PDAA is a critical step in protecting global investors and formalising Pakistan’s role in the digital economy,” Bilal bin Saqib said, urging the international community to “come and invest” in Pakistan’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.

The event was attended by prominent figures, including US Vice President JD Vance and Donald Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., who were recognised for their support in easing regional tensions between Pakistan and India.

What is the Pakistan Digital Asset Authority?

The Pakistan Digital Asset Authority (PDAA) is a newly established regulatory body tasked with overseeing the country’s digital asset market. Its creation aims to regulate the informal crypto market, ensure investor protection, and align digital asset activities with FATF standards.

By monitoring crypto exchanges, wallets, and DeFi applications, the PDAA will facilitate the responsible growth of Pakistan’s digital finance sector and promote innovation through tokenisation of national assets.