Pakistan Moves Toward Crypto Regulation with New Advisory Council
Pakistan, with 20 million active crypto users, is taking steps to legalize cryptocurrencies, and the Ministry of Finance is considering establishing a national cryptocurrency committee. According to local Reportthe move was described as “Trump’s digital assets adviser” after a meeting between Treasury Secretary Muhammad Aurangzeb and his U.S. delegation. The proposed council aims to develop policies, address regulatory challenges, and ensure compliance with global financial standards.
However, the U.S. Embassy did not officially announce the visit, but sources said the focus of the meeting was on the global rise of cryptocurrencies and how Pakistan could use it. They also discussed converting major government projects into digital assets to attract more investors.
This development coincides with India’s decision to establish a regulated cryptocurrency framework, not just India’s support for a trillion-dollar industry. Countries like Russia, Japan and China are changing their cryptocurrency stance in 2025. Under Trump’s rule, Bitcoin has attracted everyone’s attention in the United States, all of which will create the largest Bitcoin reserves in response to the financial crisis.
Foreign representatives push cryptocurrencies
Our delegations who visited include Gentry Beach Jr., Nikita Goldsmith, Alex Malkov and Jerad Finck, have strong ties to blockchain, fintech and the U.S. investment community. Their presence highlights an increasing international interest in Pakistan’s digital asset landscape. Previously, Gentry Beach guaranteed more than $1 billion investment from the Pakistani Prime Minister, indicating potential foreign capital inflows.
Changes in government positions
Until recently, Pakistan’s government and central banks have strongly opposed cryptocurrencies. However, Finance Minister Olanzeb is now calling for a new approach to align Pakistan with the International Working Group on Best Practices and Financial Action (FATF) guidelines. Discussions focus on financial security, risk mitigation, and the role of digital assets in the economy.
The negotiations also explored the tokenization of state-owned enterprises to improve liquidity and efficiency in the capital market. More than 20 million active crypto users in Pakistan face high transaction costs, and the government believes that a structured framework is needed to regulate and support the industry.
Balanced innovation and regulations
As fear of illegal activities grows, Aurangzeb proposes a balanced approach – dealing with investment and innovation while maintaining strict supervision to prevent financial crime. At the end of the meeting, we are committed to developing a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure the security, transparency and economic viability of Pakistan’s digital asset space.
