Pakistan’s Crypto Regulator Opens Doors for Global Firms to Apply for Local Licenses
made a significant move in its digital asset journey by officially encouraging international cryptocurrency companies to get licenses to do business in the country. The Virtual Assets Ordinance created the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) in July 2025.
It is the country’s first regulatory organisation just for virtual assets and blockchain services. This project is a large step toward more organised monitoring and regulation in Pakistan’s quick-growing crypto economy.
Invitation to International Crypto Companies That Follow the Rules
The finance ministry has global virtual asset service providers (VASPs) who are currently regulated in significant places like the US, the EU, or Singapore to apply for licenses. This selected method makes sure that only well-known, compliant, and trustworthy corporations do business in Pakistan.
The new rules say that no crypto company can function without a license from the local government. Licensed companies must also have enough capital, strong cybersecurity measures, and strict compliance systems.
One-of-a-kind Sharia Compliance Requirement
Pakistan’s crypto licensing system is diverse because it requires all services to follow . This makes sure that global cryptocurrency activities are in line with local cultural and religious values.
A special group of Islamic finance experts will be in charge of this part, making sure that all approved crypto services follow Islamic finance rules. This rule puts Pakistan at the forefront of combining modern digital finance with religious moral codes.
Licensing Conditions and Business Transparency
People who want to get licenses must show proof of international regulatory clearances, the nature of their business, their technological infrastructure, their security processes, and their history of following the rules. They also need to have clear business plans that explain how they will ethically serve Pakistani users while assisting the country modernise its economy.
Bilal bin Saqib, PVARA’s chairman and Minister of State for Crypto and , underlined the intention behind the initiative: “We welcome the world’s leading VASPs to join us in building a transparent and inclusive digital future.” This shows that Pakistan wants to be a major player in the global digital asset economy.
Pakistan’s Growing Crypto Ecosystem
There are already more than 40 million active crypto users in Pakistan, and the country trades more than $300 billion worth of crypto every year. Policymakers are not just interested in making rules, but also in encouraging new ideas.
The creation of a national crypto council, which includes well-known people like Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, co-founder of , shows that the government is serious about growing its blockchain and crypto businesses. People are still talking about increasing the amount of BTC mining that can be done and maybe even setting up a strategic BTC reserve that the government would control.
