Despite economic challenges and political tensions, Pakistan is charting a bold course in the cryptocurrency market. Speaking at the Bitcoin 
$75,013 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, Bilal bin Saqib, the President of the Pakistan Cryptocurrency Council, announced that the government plans to establish a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.” Saqib emphasized that the BTC collected in the reserve will not be sold and will be held indefinitely, marking this decision as a long-term commitment inspired by the leadership of the United States. This move positions Pakistan as the first country in South Asia to venture into a state-backed cryptocurrency reserve.
Pakistan’s State-backed Bitcoin Reserve Sparks Interest
According to the council’s announcement, the reserve will be under the supervision of the central bank and initially funded by allocations separated from public financing. The indefinite holding of the collected Bitcoin indicates a shift towards a long-term savings mechanism for the country rather than a mere speculative trade aiming for price increases.
While it is estimated that U.S. federal and state agencies hold 463,741 BTC (equivalent to a 2.3% supply share), Pakistan aims to build a similar “strategic shield” with its reserve initiative.
Two years ago, Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance had deemed cryptocurrency illegal, but global acceptance has softened their stance. Ministry sources reveal that a comprehensive draft bill on cryptocurrency will be included in the June budget along with the reserve initiative. Thus, Pakistan is transitioning from a prohibitive approach to a regulatory-promotive framework to stand out in the regional competition.
New Crypto Ecosystem Inspired by the U.S.
The ruling side supports the Bitcoin reserve move with a broader ecosystem plan. A memorandum of understanding signed in January with World Liberty Financial covers collaborative efforts in asset tokenization, stablecoins backed by cryptocurrency, and regulatory protocols. The Ministry of Energy also plans to allocate 2,000 MW capacity to mining and AI infrastructure projects, providing cheap electricity to the sector.
The country has about 25 million active cryptocurrency users and an annual transaction volume of $300 billion. An official Bitcoin reserve will formalize this potential and facilitate capital attraction. Officials have also proposed establishing Blockchain innovation hubs to offer developers tax incentives, aiming to turn digital finance into a development tool despite geopolitical pressures along the Indian border.
It is evident that Pakistan is steering towards a crypto economy with its state-backed Bitcoin reserve. The government aims to create a unique financial model in South Asia through indefinite BTC accumulation, energy incentives, and U.S. partnerships.
