In a landmark announcement at Bitcoin Vegas 2025, Pakistan\u2019s Minister for Crypto and Blockchain Bilal Bin Saqib unveiled the country\u2019s first government-led Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, marking a historic pivot in the nation\u2019s digital and financial outlook. Addressing a global audience that included US Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr, he positioned Pakistan as a forward-looking digital hub, powered by its tech-savvy youth and strengthened by a shift toward decentralised finance. \u201cI\u2019m not just here as a minister,\u201d Saqib said during his keynote. \u201cI\u2019m here as the voice of a generation \u2014 a generation that is online, on-chain, and unstoppable.\u201d Bilal, who also serves as the CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, revealed that the reserve would not be used for speculation or trading but would serve as a sovereign holding \u2014 signalling long-term commitment to blockchain-based finance. The national Bitcoin wallet already holds assets under state custody. He also announced Phase 1 of a government-backed infrastructure project, allocating 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centres. The initiative is designed to attract sovereign miners, global tech firms, and renewable energy partners. Another major reveal from the keynote was the upcoming establishment of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) \u2014 a new regulatory body aimed at protecting investors, empowering developers, and building a secure framework for digital finance in the country. \u201cBoth Pakistan and Bitcoin have suffered from bad PR,\u201d Bilal noted. \u201cBut if you look past the headlines, you\u2019ll see something else: talent, resilience, and vision.\u201d The 34-year-old minister underscored Pakistan\u2019s unique position, with over 40 million crypto wallets, a median age of 23, and one of the world\u2019s largest freelancer populations \u2014 making it a natural contender in the Web3 economy. In a notable geopolitical gesture, he thanked US President Donald Trump for helping maintain peace during the recent India-Pakistan conflict and praised his stance on crypto adoption. Ending his speech with a call to action, Bilal invited builders from across the globe to leverage Pakistan\u2019s youth and digital readiness: \u201cIf you\u2019re building something real \u2014 come build it in Pakistan. Come build wallets for the unbanked. Come tokenise land. Come scale your mission with our youth and our unstoppable grit.\u201d The address has positioned Pakistan at the heart of a global crypto and Web3 narrative, no longer as a bystander, but as an ambitious actor reshaping its future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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