Govt appoints crypto expert to lead blockchain in Pakistan

May 26, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan among an elite group of 7-9 nations with dedicated leadership on blockchain and crypto, as Prime Minister appoints Bilal Bin Saqib as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Blockchain and Crypto, with the status of Minister of State.

This groundbreaking appointment places Pakistan alongside countries like the United States, El Salvador, and the UAE, signaling a bold commitment to leading the global digital economy.

Bilal Bin Saqib also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) and Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister.

As CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, Bilal has led strategic collaborations and established vital connections between Pakistan and global technology players.

Under his leadership, the PCC signed a landmark partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance platform backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, to advance blockchain innovation and stablecoin adoption in Pakistan.

He also invited Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, to serve as Strategic Advisor to the PCC to support regulatory development, infrastructure expansion, and crypto education programs in the country.

Bilal Bin Saqib holds a Master’s degree in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics (LSE).

He has been recognized in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 for his work in social impact and was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) honor by King Charles III.

In his new role as SAPM, Bilal will be responsible for developing a comprehensive, FATF-compliant regulatory framework for digital assets and launching Bitcoin mining initiatives.

He will also oversee blockchain integration in governance, finance, and land records, facilitate licensing and oversight of virtual asset service providers (VASPs), and champion investor protection and the growth of the Web3 ecosystem in Pakistan.

This appointment reflects Pakistan’s determination to keep pace with global digital policy trends.

Similar to how the U.S. appointed digital leaders like David Sacks as White House AI and Crypto Czar, Pakistan’s move to empower a young visionary to lead national strategy in emerging technologies demonstrates a forward-thinking approach.

It sends a clear message that Pakistan is ready to embrace the future, led by its youth.

Pakistan is at a pivotal digital crossroads, ranking in the top 10 worldwide for crypto adoption according to the 2023 Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index.

The country has approximately 40 million crypto users and an annual trading volume exceeding $300 billion.

Pakistan produces around 40,000 IT graduates annually and has the fourth largest freelancer market globally, as per the press release issued today.

Its rapid adoption of emerging technologies, combined with a youthful population where over 60% are under the age of 30, positions the country to benefit immensely from blockchain and crypto advancements in the coming decade.

Bilal Bin Saqib emphasized, “Pakistan’s unique demographic and digital landscape offers an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog into the future of technology where blockchain and crypto will drive economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.”

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