Field Marshal Asim Munir meets chief of crypto council to discuss blockchain, AI

KARACHI: Pakistan has unveiled plans to regulate its vast informal crypto market and position itself as a regional hub for blockchain, artificial intelligence and digital finance, as part of a broader strategy to harness the country’s youthful demographics and surplus energy for economic transformation.

At a high-level meeting at General Headquarters, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met with Bilal Bin Saqib, chief executive of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), to discuss the strategic potential of emerging technologies. The conversation focused on leveraging blockchain, cryptocurrency and AI to empower youth and build economic resilience.

“The [PCC] exists because our youth demand a seat at the global tech table,” Saqib told the meeting, stressing that digital finance and decentralisation offer opportunities, not threats.The dialogue comes amid an acceleration of regulatory efforts. The Ministry of Finance on Wednesday announced the formation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), a dedicated body tasked with overseeing blockchain infrastructure and the regulation of virtual assets. The move marks a significant step towards formalising a market estimated at over $300 billion in annual crypto trading volume.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the PDAA would create “a secure, innovative and inclusive ecosystem for virtual assets” and help position Pakistan as a regional leader in digital finance and blockchain regulation. He said the initiative would also facilitate the tokenisation of public assets and government debt, enable regulated Bitcoin mining using surplus electricity, and provide legal clarity for global investors.

The announcement reflects growing urgency within Pakistan’s leadership to shift towards a tech-led growth model. With over 70 per cent of its 240 million population under the age of 30, Pakistan has one of the most favourable demographics for digital adoption. It ranks among the top five countries globally for crypto usage and is the world’s third-largest freelancer market, with more than 50,000 IT graduates entering the workforce each year.

Saqib briefed the military leadership on the PCC’s recent initiatives, including global outreach with Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and World Liberty Financial, and the group’s youth-first policy focus. He emphasised the need to channel Pakistan’s tech-savvy workforce into scalable blockchain solutions and AI infrastructure.

Part of the national strategy includes allocating surplus electricity to power Bitcoin mining operations and AI data centres. The meeting precedes Saqib’s participation in the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, where he is set to speak alongside a roster of influential figures including US Vice President JD Vance and Donald Trump Jr. The event is expected to shape future narratives on global crypto governance.