Pakistan has reaffirmed its goal of becoming a major player in the global digital finance sector, as Minister of State and Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), Bilal Bin Saqib, outlined the country’s vision for the future of digital assets at the Point Zero Forum in Zurich.
The international event brought together policymakers, central bankers, regulators, and financial experts to discuss the future of tokenized money, stablecoins, and virtual assets. Speaking at the forum, Bilal Bin Saqib said Pakistan is following a “Pakistan-first” strategy to develop its digital finance ecosystem.
He encouraged developing nations to actively participate in creating global digital asset regulations instead of depending only on rules designed by advanced economies. He stressed that governments should focus on regulating the infrastructure behind digital assets rather than trying to stop innovation.
During a panel discussion, Bin Saqib said the global financial system is undergoing rapid change as digital assets reshape international payments. He stated that Pakistan intends to contribute to the development of future financial regulations instead of remaining a passive observer.
He added that money is increasingly becoming digital, and countries that adapt to this shift will be better prepared for future economic opportunities. The discussion also explored the regulatory challenges surrounding central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, and tokenized financial systems.
According to PVARA, Pakistan ranked third in the 2025 Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index, behind India and the United States. The authority credited this achievement to the country’s young population, expanding freelance workforce, annual remittances exceeding $38 billion, and the growing use of stablecoins.
Pakistan has introduced several reforms to regulate the digital asset sector. The government established the Pakistan Crypto Council and later passed the Virtual Assets Act 2026, creating PVARA as the country’s official regulator for virtual assets.
The authority has started issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to international cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance and HTX. Meanwhile, the State Bank has eased banking restrictions, allowing licensed virtual asset service providers to access banking services under strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regulations.
The 2026–27 federal budget also proposes bringing digital assets into the country’s tax system, with discussions on tax rates ranging from 10% to 30%. These reforms mark Pakistan’s transition from an unregulated crypto market to a structured and fully regulated digital asset ecosystem focused on investor protection, transparency, and compliance with international standards.
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