Pakistan is set to undertake a major foray into the cryptocurrency landscape, with the government announcing plans to establish a strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve and allocating substantial energy resources to support Bitcoin mining operations.
The announcement was submitted for blockchain and crypto Bilalvin Saqib at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, and points to a bold new direction in the country’s digital asset policy.
Minister Bin Sakib has revealed that Pakistani initiative to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve is inspired by similar initial plans within President Donald Trump’s administration.
The US strategy reportedly reports that at least initially, Bitcoin holdings seized from criminal and civil forfeitures are estimated at around 200,000 BTC.
He also said that the Pakistani government is closely monitoring and “very careful” US legislative efforts on stables, specifically “guiding and establishing national innovation for the Stablecoins (Genius) Act.”
Emphasizing its long-term commitment, Bin Saqib assured that Pakistan has no intention of liquidating its holdings, similar to the bitcoin allocated to US strategic reserves.
“This wallet, the National Bitcoin Wallet, is not for speculation or hype,” declared Bin Saqib.
“We hold these Bitcoins, but we never sell them.”
This HODL (Hold On For Dear Life) approach highlights the belief in Bitcoin’s lasting value and its potential as a national asset.
Future Power: Mining and AI Energy Allocation
Beyond strategic reserves, Pakistan is taking concrete steps to nurture the domestic Bitcoin mining industry.
Minister Bin Saqib announced that the government has acquired 2,000 megawatts of electricity, particularly for its Bitcoin mining business and AI data centres.
This important energy allocation is a clear invitation to global players in the crypto mining and infrastructure sector.
“We want to welcome all miners to come to Pakistan and all infrastructure players to come to Pakistan and build together with us,” declared Bin Saqib, signaling an open door policy aimed at attracting international investment and expertise to develop the country’s digital infrastructure.
“Just the beginning”: a broader vision for cryptography adoption
According to Minister Bin Sakib, the establishment of Bitcoin’s strategic reserves and supporting the mining industry is just the first step in a broader embrace of Pakistan’s cryptocurrency industry.
He highlighted the potential for transforming digital assets for the country’s large population.
“We have over 100 million bankers. They lack tools for saving and investing and want to change that. We want them to break the economic class,” explained Bin Saqib.
“And I really believe that cryptography and blockchain will help us make that quantum leap.”
He further clarified his vision, including the implementation of illiquid domestic assets tokenization and digital identification systems.
“Pakistan is looking for an alliance. Pakistan is looking for access because Pakistan wants to build,” he concluded, highlighting a joint approach to achieving these ambitious goals.
