Key Takeaways:
- Pakistan announced plans to establish a Bitcoin strategic reserve and the allocation of 2000 megawatts of energy for BTC mining.
- Bitcoin reserve will be managed by Pakistan’s Crypto Council, which is backed by the International Monetary Fund.
- Pakistan’s Crypto Council is already in collaboration with World Liberty Financial Inc. (WLFI), to position itself as a global leader in blockchain technology.
- The reserve plans and electricity allocation arrive amidst the war tensions between its neighbour, India.
Pakistan’s minister of blockchain and cryptocurrency, Bilal Bin Saqib, revealed the government’s plans to establish a Bitcoin strategic reserve and use 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity to power Bitcoin mining and AI data centres.
Pakistan’s Crypto Council is already in collaboration with World Liberty Financial Inc. (WLFI), a company closely associated with the Donald Trump family, with the objectives of financial inclusion of blockchain, introduction of stablecoins, and monetization of untapped national assets like rare earth minerals.
Bilal Bin Saqib, appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council with the status of a minister of the state, has been an angel investor and advisor in early-stage blockchain and AI companies for a while. As an alumnus of the London School of Economics, his insights are expected to boost Pakistan’s economic condition amidst the war tensions between its neighbour, India.
Pakistan’s Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Ties With US-driven Global Crypto Expansion
Following the inauguration of the Trump administration, various Middle Eastern and South Asian countries have been exploring new ways to create ties with the U.S., including Pakistan. Also, the U.S. has become benevolent toward Pakistan recently, unlike the conditions of 2018 when the country suspended $300 million in military aid to Pakistan.
Earlier in January this year, Pakistan government officials met in Washington to seek more U.S. investments. Soon after the meetings, Pakistan’s finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb ordered the creation of a National Crypto Council. Following the appointment of Bilal Bin Saqib as the CEO, the Chinese-born Canadian businessman and the founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), joined as the strategic advisor.
In April 2025, World Liberty Financial’s leaders held a meeting with Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad and signed a memorandum, aiming to position Pakistan as a global crypto leader. The establishment of a reserve enhanced this motto. As a country with around 20 million blockchain users, the anticipated new source of revenue is welcomed by the public.
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List of Countries with Bitcoin Strategic Reserve
According to the latest reports, around 520K Bitcoins are held by various governments, with the United States standing in the first position, and China securing the second position. The list of top countries is given below.
- United States (207,189 BTC)
- China (194,000 BTC)
- United Kingdom (61,000 BTC)
- Ukraine (46,351 BTC)
- Bhutan (13,029 BTC)
- El Salvador (6,003 BTC)
About Pakistan Crypto Council
Established on 14th March 2025, Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) is a government-based regulatory body that oversees and promotes blockchain technology and digital assets. Backed by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Action Task Force, it develops a regulatory framework for crypto and establishes collaborations between global blockchain-driven firms. Key positions are given below.
- Chair – Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb
- CEO – Bilal bin Saqib
- Adviser – Changpeng Zhao
- Board Member – Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan
- Board Member – Chairman of the SECP
- Board Member – Federal Law Secretary
- Board Member – Federal IT Secretary