Key Takeaways
- According to a joint statement, the government plans to unveil a comprehensive framework for crypto legalization aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s position as “one of the fastest-growing crypto markets in the world.”
- The Deal will include WLF assisting in establishing regulatory sandboxes for blockchain financial products, creating stablecoin models focused on remittances and trade among others
World Liberty Financial (WLF), supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) to promote crypto adoption and blockchain innovation in Pakistan.
The agreement, announced following a meeting attended virtually by Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, PCC CEO Bilal Bin Saqib, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and the State Bank governor, signals a shift in Pakistan’s approach to digital assets.
According to a joint statement, the government plans to unveil a comprehensive framework for crypto legalization aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s position as “one of the fastest-growing crypto markets in the world.” The initiative further seeks to foster international collaborations and tech investment.
The LoI outlines several initiatives which includes WLF assisting in establishing regulatory sandboxes for blockchain financial products, creating stablecoin models focused on remittances and trade, exploring tokenization of real-world assets like real estate and commodities, and supporting decentralized finance (DeFi) development in the country.
WLF co-founders Zach Witkoff, Zak Folkman, and Chase Herro signed the agreement in a meeting with PCC CEO Bilal bin Saqib. The event was witnessed by senior Pakistani officials, including the central bank governor, finance minister, and IT secretary.
Additionally, Changpeng Zhao, former CEO of Binance, has been appointed as an advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council. Zhao is expected to play a role in shaping the country’s regulatory direction, following meetings with WLF founders to discuss coordination on future projects.
Reportedly, the collaboration marks a major turnaround from May 2023, when then-Finance Minister Aisha Ghaus Pasha stated that Pakistan would not legalize Bitcoin due to concerns over Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliance.
Now, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has proposed a new crypto regulatory model, announced on April 10, 2025, aimed at balancing innovation with national security. The framework addresses Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, money laundering, and terrorism financing risks, and is set for phased implementation beginning in 2026.
Pakistan is already a major player in the global crypto economy. According to Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index, Pakistan ranks eighth globally in grassroots crypto adoption. Estimates suggest that between 15 to 26 million Pakistanis are active crypto users, representing around 10% of the national population
Transaction volumes are significant, with $300 billion worth of annual cryptocurrency transactions reported in 2023, reflecting a parallel trend of declining formal remittance flows.
The World Liberty-PCC partnership is expected to accelerate the professionalization of Pakistan’s digital economy. The LoI calls for strategic advisory on blockchain infrastructure and global regulatory best practices to guide the development of policies tailored to Pakistan’s unique market environment.
