In a landmark move, Pakistan has officially announced the establishment of a government-led Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, signaling a significant shift in its approach to digital assets. This initiative was unveiled on May 28, 2025, at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas by Bilal Bin Saqib, head of Pakistan’s crypto council. The reserve aims to leverage the country’s surplus energy and position Pakistan as a forward-thinking participant in the global digital economy.
Key Highlights:
- Inspiration from the U.S.: Pakistan’s decision follows the United States’ establishment of its own Strategic Digital Currency Reserve under the Trump administration, reflecting a growing global trend of integrating digital currencies into national reserves.
- Energy Allocation for Mining: The Pakistani government has allocated 2,000 megawatts of excess energy to support Bitcoin mining operations, aiming to utilize underused resources for economic gain.
- Formation of Regulatory Bodies: To oversee and regulate the burgeoning digital asset sector, Pakistan has established a National Crypto Council and created the Digital Asset Authority, which is tasked with licensing and supervising crypto platforms.
- Expert Advisory: Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has been appointed as an advisor to Pakistan’s crypto council, bringing valuable expertise to the country’s digital asset strategy.
Global Momentum: Countries Exploring Bitcoin Reserves
Pakistan joins a growing list of nations considering or implementing Bitcoin reserves as part of their economic and financial strategies:
- United States: Under President Trump’s administration, the U.S. established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, aiming to diversify national assets and strengthen economic resilience.
- Brazil: Proposed legislation seeks to allocate up to 5% of Brazil’s foreign reserves to Bitcoin, enhancing stability against currency fluctuations.
- Russia: Amid Western sanctions, Russian officials have advocated for a national Bitcoin reserve to facilitate international trade and reduce reliance on traditional currencies.
- Czech Republic: The Czech National Bank is considering investing up to 5% of its reserves in Bitcoin to diversify its holdings.
- Switzerland: A citizen-led initiative aims to mandate the Swiss National Bank to include Bitcoin in its reserves, reflecting the country’s proactive stance on digital assets.
- Poland: Presidential candidate Sławomir Mentzen proposes establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to transform Poland into a crypto-friendly hub.
- South Africa: The uMkhonto weSizwe Party advocates for a Bitcoin reserve to promote economic emancipation and reduce dependence on international financial institutions.
- Japan: Lawmaker Satoshi Hamada has called for discussions on creating a national Bitcoin reserve, though the proposal faces governmental resistance.
- Hong Kong: Legislators are exploring the integration of Bitcoin into the city’s financial reserves to enhance economic resilience.
- Bhutan: Leveraging its hydropower resources, Bhutan has mined Bitcoin since 2019, holding significant BTC reserves to bolster its economy.
As nations like Pakistan embrace Bitcoin reserves, the global financial landscape is witnessing a transformative shift towards digital asset integration. This trend underscores the growing recognition of cryptocurrencies as viable components of national economic strategies.