Pakistan Launches First State-Backed Bitcoin Reserve at Bitcoin Vegas 2025

Ending his address with a rallying cry, Saqib extended an invitation to global innovators:

By DTD- On May 29, 2025

LAS VEGAS, May 29, 2025 — In a groundbreaking moment for the global crypto ecosystem, Pakistan has officially launched its first Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, becoming one of the first countries to adopt a sovereign cryptocurrency holding. The announcement came during a high-profile keynote by Bilal Bin Saqib, Pakistan’s Minister for Crypto and Blockchain, at Bitcoin Vegas 2025.

Addressing an international audience that included US Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr, Saqib laid out a bold vision to transform Pakistan into a leading digital economy powered by blockchain innovation, artificial intelligence, and a young, tech-savvy population.

“I’m not just here as a minister,” said Saqib. “I’m here as the voice of a generation — a generation that is online, on-chain, and unstoppable.”

The newly announced Bitcoin reserve will serve as a long-term sovereign asset, not for trading or speculation, but as a foundational pillar in Pakistan’s evolving financial architecture. The state-owned digital wallet already holds bitcoin under official custody — a move that analysts are calling a signal of serious institutional commitment to decentralized finance.

Powering the Future: 2,000 Megawatts for Crypto and AI

In a major infrastructure reveal, Saqib announced Phase 1 of a national project that allocates 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity to power Bitcoin mining farms and AI data centers. The initiative is designed to attract sovereign miners, global Web3 companies, and renewable energy partners seeking efficient and scalable operations in South Asia.

Regulatory Framework: The Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA)

Saqib also announced the upcoming creation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) — a new federal regulatory body to oversee and safeguard the country’s digital finance ecosystem. The PDAA aims to protect investors, empower developers, and establish Pakistan as a secure and attractive destination for crypto innovation.

“Both Pakistan and Bitcoin have suffered from bad PR,” Saqib noted. “But if you look past the headlines, you’ll see something else: talent, resilience, and vision.”

With over 40 million crypto wallets, a median age of 23, and one of the world’s largest freelancer populations, Pakistan is positioning itself as a natural hub for Web3 development.

A Geopolitical Shift and a Call to Builders

In a surprising diplomatic note, Saqib thanked US President Donald Trump for his role in maintaining peace during a recent India-Pakistan conflict and commended his administration’s support for cryptocurrency.

Ending his address with a rallying cry, Saqib extended an invitation to global innovators:

“If you’re building something real — 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.”

With this bold move, Pakistan is no longer a bystander in the global crypto narrative — it’s staking a claim as a serious player in the future of finance and digital infrastructure.