Pakistan Launches First Government-Backed Bitcoin Reserve
In a landmark move, Pakistan has officially launched its first government-backed strategic Bitcoin reserve, marking a significant shift in its approach to cryptocurrency and blockchain integration. The announcement was made by Bilal Bin Saqib, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Crypto and Blockchain, during his address at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.
Speaking before global figures—including US Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr.—Saqib revealed that 2,000 megawatts of surplus energy have been allocated in Phase 1 to power Bitcoin mining operations and AI data centres.
“The Pakistan of tomorrow is being built today by its youth and led by a new generation of tech statesmen,” said Saqib, emphasizing the government’s intention to follow the US lead in establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve.
Crypto Strategy Gains Momentum With Institutional Support
Pakistan’s recent pro-crypto stance is being shaped by a series of coordinated national initiatives. In February 2025, the government formed the National Crypto Council to develop regulatory frameworks and attract foreign investment. A major boost came in April, when Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao was appointed as an adviser to the council.
Further aligning with international trends, on April 27, World Liberty Financial (WLFI)—a Trump-backed decentralized finance protocol—signed a letter of intent with Pakistan to support real-world asset tokenization and DeFi infrastructure development.
To manage the growing scope of digital assets, Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance recently authorized the creation of a Digital Asset Authority, responsible for licensing and regulation of crypto platforms.
Global Context: U.S. Pushes Forward With Crypto Reserves
Pakistan’s strategy mirrors emerging policies in the United States. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile. These reserves will initially be funded through cryptocurrencies seized in federal enforcement actions.
David Sacks, a senior White House official overseeing AI and crypto initiatives, confirmed the strategy in a March 7 post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the federal Bitcoin reserve will be populated using government-held BTC. The Digital Asset Stockpile, outlined in a March 6 White House fact sheet, will hold a range of cryptocurrencies, signaling long-term integration of digital assets into US financial infrastructure.
Pakistan’s move to build a national reserve and power it with surplus energy demonstrates its commitment to becoming a competitive player in the global crypto economy.
