Pakistan Crypto Council

Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) is a Pakistani regulatory body to oversee and promote blockchain technology and digital assets within Pakistan; as of May 2025, reports indicated that Pakistan had approximately 40 million cryptocurrency users, with an estimated annual crypto trading volume exceeding US$300 billion.^[1] The council was established by the government of Pakistan in March 2025.^[2][3][4]

Pakistan Crypto Council

Abbreviation	PCC
Formation	14 March 2025; 4 months ago (2025-03-14)
Type	Government-backed initiative
Legal status	Active
Purpose	Developing regulations and promoting blockchain technology and digital assets
Location	Islamabad, Pakistan
Region served	Pakistan
Official language	Urdu, English
Chairperson	Muhammad Aurangzeb
CEO	Bilal Bin Saqib
Adviser	Changpeng Zhao
Parent organization	Ministry of Finance, Pakistan
Affiliations	International Monetary Fund Financial Action Task Force

History

The plan to set up the PCC was announced on 25 February 2025, led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The official plans were prepared under his guidance, and the council was formally launched in March 2025.

Leadership and structure

The PCC is led by Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who has been appointed as its head. Bilal Bin Saqib serves as the Chief of the council, providing strategic direction to its operations.^[5] The immediate governing board of the council includes officials such as the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the Federal Law and IT Secretaries underscoring the institutional backing and collaborative nature of the initiative.^[6][7][8] On 07 April 2025, PCC appointed Binance co-founder, Zhao as it's strategic adviser.^[9][10] On 26 May 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the PCC, as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, with the rank of Minister of State.^[1]

Leadership

Role	Individual/Position
Chair	Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb
CEO	Bilal Bin Saqib
Adviser	Changpeng Zhao
Board Member	Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan
Board Member	Chairman of the SECP
Board Member	Federal Law Secretary
Board Member	Federal IT Secretary

Recent developments

In May 2025, PCC's CEO Bilal Bin Saqib unveiled Pakistan's first government-led Strategic Bitcoin Reserve at the Bitcoin Vegas 2025.^[11] In the same month, the government allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity in first phase for bitcoin mining and AI data centres.^[12] These initiatives are aimed at presenting Pakistan as an emerging player in the crypto economy.

Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority

The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) was set up in July 2025 to manage and license virtual asset services in the country. It was formed under the Virtual Assets Ordinance, 2025, to make sure rules are followed, support innovation, and keep in line with international and Islamic finance standards.