Trump-backed financial firm partners with Pakistan Crypto Council to boost blockchain adoption

Representations of cryptocurrencies are seen in this illustration, on August 10, 2022. (REUTERS/File)
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Updated 27 April 2025
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Trump-backed financial firm partners with Pakistan Crypto Council to boost blockchain adoption

  • Pakistan has signaled plans to announce comprehensive cryptocurrency legalization policies soon
  • Country’s finance chief says such partnerships will open new doors for investment and innovation

KARACHI: World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance platform backed by US President Donald Trump, signed a letter of intent with Pakistan’s Crypto Council on Saturday to advance blockchain innovation, stablecoin adoption and decentralized finance (DeFi) integration across the South Asian country.

The agreement, signed in Islamabad, comes as Pakistan looks to formalize its crypto economy amid rising interest in blockchain technologies.

Pakistan is already among the world’s fastest-growing crypto markets, ranking near the top in global adoption rates, with an estimated $300 billion in annual crypto transactions and around 25 million active users.

The government has signaled plans to announce comprehensive cryptocurrency legalization policies soon, building on its wider digital economy ambitions fueled by a largely young population and growing mobile penetration.

“Pakistan’s youth and technology sector are our greatest assets,” Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who is currently in Washington and attended the ceremony through video link, said, according to a government statement. “Through partnerships like this, we are opening new doors for investment, innovation and global leadership in the blockchain economy.”

The WLF delegation also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and several federal ministers during the visit.

The partnership outlines cooperation on areas such as regulatory sandboxes for blockchain product testing, tokenization of real-world assets, expansion of stablecoin applications for remittances and trade and advisory support on blockchain infrastructure and regulatory trends.

Pakistan’s proactive stance follows its broader push to position itself as a hub for digital finance innovation, with 64 percent of its population under the age of 30.

Rising mobile broadband access, a booming freelance economy and increasing government interest in blockchain have accelerated the country’s Web3 adoption.

Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, said the collaboration with WLF was aimed at empowering Pakistan’s young population and integrating the country more deeply into the future of global finance.

WLF leadership praised Pakistan’s “energy, vision and talent,” calling it one of the most exciting places in the world to build decentralized finance ecosystems.


Deputy PM Dar, Etisalat chairman discuss investment, stake in Pakistan’s PTCL

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Deputy PM Dar, Etisalat chairman discuss investment, stake in Pakistan’s PTCL

  • The development comes against backdrop of a long-running dispute over PTCL privatization
  • The issue has resurfaced in recent years as Pakistan seeks to advance privatization plans

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Jassem Mohammed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, chairman of Etisalat (e&) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance, and discussed with him investment prospects, including Etisalat’s stake in Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Saturday.

The planned meeting with the Etisalat chairman comes against the backdrop of a long-running dispute over the privatization of PTCL. The UAE-based telecom group has withheld a final payment of about $800 million linked to its 2005 acquisition of a 26 percent stake in PTCL, citing delays in the transfer of properties included in the deal, a position disputed by Pakistan.

The issue has resurfaced in recent years as Pakistan seeks to revive investor confidence, advance privatization plans and stabilize its finances under a program backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“The meeting reviewed Pakistan-UAE trade & economic cooperation, explored opportunities to enhance investment, and discussed e&’s pending issues and ongoing engagement in Pakistan, including through its stake in PTCL,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said.

Pakistan and the UAE maintain close political and economic ties, with Abu Dhabi providing critical financial support to Islamabad in recent years through deposits, loans and investment commitments as Pakistan navigates a fragile economic recovery.

“DPM/FM highlighted the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating investment by the private sector and partner countries, and to further strengthening economic cooperation between the two brotherly countries,” the foreign ministry said after the meeting.

The Pakistani deputy PM arrived in the UAE on Friday on an official visit following his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to his ministry. He will also hold meetings with other UAE officials during the visit.