ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): In an important step forward, Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance on Wednesday has unveiled a new roadmap for crypto regulation aimed at promoting innovation and formalising Pakistan’s digital asset economy.
As part of the crypto regulation plan, the government has approved the creation of a new organisation called the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA). According to the statement, the PDAA will be responsible for regulating financial services built on blockchain.
The main task is to support new ideas that meet the standards of the FATF while also helping people and companies embrace digital technologies securely.
“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,” said Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who also serves as Chairman of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC).
The new authority will act as a dedicated regulator, responsible for licensing and compliance across the digital asset sector. It will cover exchanges, crypto wallets, custodians, stablecoins, tokenised platforms, and even decentralised finance (DeFi) applications all under one set of rules.
The Finance Ministry stated that by setting up this regulator, Pakistan is now aligned with countries such as the UAE, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong which have created similar bodies to boost innovation and comply with international regulations.
The PDAA aims to to bring structure to Pakistan’s crypto market which has an estimated value of over $25 billion. It will also help with the tokenisation of state-owned assets and government debt, provide legal clarity for investors, and support the regulated mining of Bitcoin by using surplus electricity.
At the same time, the new body is expected to open doors for young people and startups to develop large-scale blockchain-based solutions.
“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.
