Islamabad, May 21, 2025: In a key development, the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday introduced an all-inclusive strategy to regulate digital assets and fast-track the growth of Pakistan’s virtual economy.
As part of this strategy, the government has approved the establishment of a dedicated body, Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) to regulate blockchain-based financial system, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance.
The main objective is to ensure FATF-compliant innovation, economic inclusion, and responsible adoption of digital assets.
“Pakistan must regulate not just to catch up — but to lead. With the PDAA, we are creating a future-ready framework that protects consumers, invites global investment, and puts Pakistan at the forefront of financial innovation,” stated Finance Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The PDAA will operate as an independent authority with a focus on managing oversee licensing, compliance, and innovation within the digital asset system.
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It will oversee platforms and services including crypto exchanges, digital wallets, custodial services, stablecoins, DeFi applications, and tokenised platforms bringing them under a single framework.
“This strategic decision aligns Pakistan with other forward-thinking economies such as the UAE, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong all of which have established digital asset regulators to foster innovation while ensuring compliance with global financial norms,” read the statement.
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The PDAA’s responsibilities will include overseeing Pakistan’s $25 billion+ informal crypto sector, facilitating the tokenisation of public assets and sovereign debt, offering legal assurance to investors at home and abroad, enabling the regulated mining of Bitcoin to monetise surplus energy, and equipping young entrepreneurs and startups to develop blockchain-based ventures on a national scale.
“This is not just about crypto, it’s about rewriting our financial future, expanding access, and creating new export channels through tokenisation, digital finance, and Web3 innovation,” said Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of PCC.
