Govt in talks with ‘crypto mentor’ Michael Saylor on bitcoin reserves

KARACHI: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting with Michael Saylor, executive chairperson of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), and Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain Bilal bin Saqib to explore the use of Bitcoin as a sovereign reserve asset, according to a statement.

The meeting, held in Islamabad, focused on the role of Bitcoin in strengthening the country’s monetary resilience and accelerating its transition to a digitally enabled economy. “Pakistan aspires to lead the Global South in digital asset adoption,” said Aurangzeb.

Saylor, whose firm is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin globally, praised Pakistan’s openness to embracing the digital asset. He called Bitcoin a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for emerging markets to leapfrog legacy financial systems and build long-term economic sovereignty.

Bilal bin Saqib highlighted Strategy’s transformation from a mid-sized software company into a $100+ billion tech giant through disciplined Bitcoin accumulation, adding, “If private individuals can build that in the US, why can’t Pakistan, as a nation, do the same?”

The meeting comes amid growing global momentum behind Bitcoin, punctuated by the recent Bitcoin 2025 conference in the US. There, in his interview with a foreign outlet, Saylor called it the “greatest Bitcoin conference ever”, citing record institutional engagement and swelling public-sector interest. He reiterated his thesis that Bitcoin is “perfect money”, enabling individuals and states to store and transmit economic energy without interference.

Strategy recently doubled its capital plan to $84 billion in a bid to expand Bitcoin holdings and issue Bitcoin-backed financial instruments, such as yield-generating preferred stock -- bridging traditional capital markets and the digital asset economy.

That narrative is gaining traction among governments. In March, the Trump administration announced a sweeping shift in US digital asset policy at the first White House Digital Assets Summit. President Trump unveiled plans for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, calling it a “virtual Fort Knox for digital gold”, seeded with as many as 200,000 Bitcoin already in government possession.

Trump vowed never to sell the holdings and ordered federal departments to explore cost-free acquisition strategies and inventory all crypto assets across agencies. “America will follow the rule that every Bitcoin knows very well: never sell your Bitcoin,” he said.

The move -- framed as an end to the federal “war on crypto” -- dismantled key regulatory hurdles which had allegedly pressured banks to sever ties with crypto businesses. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the executive order would “augment the assets side of the United States balance sheet”, while other top officials hailed the pivot as restoring “legal fairness” and unleashing a new era of innovation.

The policy shift and global institutional momentum add tailwinds to Pakistan’s ambitions to position itself as a Bitcoin-ready emerging market. “Bitcoin is the strongest asset for long-term national resilience,” Saylor said. “Pakistan has brilliant people and the clarity needed to lead in this space.”