Pakistan Joins Global Crypto Race with State-Backed Bitcoin Reserve

LAS VEGAS: At Bitcoin Vegas 2025, Pakistan’s Minister for Crypto and Blockchain, Bilal Bin Saqib, announced the country’s first government-led Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, marking a significant shift in its digital and financial policies.

Speaking to an international audience that included US Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr, Saqib positioned Pakistan as a rising digital hub, driven by its tech-savvy youth and a move toward decentralized finance.

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

As the CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, Saqib emphasized that the reserve would not be used for speculation or trading but would serve as a sovereign holding, reflecting Pakistan’s long-term commitment to blockchain-based finance. The national Bitcoin wallet already holds assets under state custody.

He also unveiled Phase 1 of a government-backed infrastructure project, allocating 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers. The initiative aims to attract sovereign miners, global tech firms, and renewable energy partners.

Another major announcement was the upcoming establishment of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), a regulatory body designed to protect investors, empower developers, and create a secure framework for digital finance.

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

The 34-year-old minister highlighted Pakistan’s unique position, with over 40 million crypto wallets, a median age of 23, and one of the world’s largest freelancer populations—making it a strong contender in the Web3 economy.

In a diplomatic gesture, he thanked US President Donald Trump for his role in maintaining peace during the recent India-Pakistan conflict and praised his stance on crypto adoption.

Concluding his speech, Saqib invited global innovators to leverage Pakistan’s youth and digital readiness: “If you’re building something real—come build it in Pakistan. Come build wallets for the unbanked. Come tokenize land. Come scale your mission with our youth and our unstoppable grit.”

The announcement has positioned Pakistan as a key player in the global crypto and Web3 landscape, signaling its ambition to reshape its financial future.