Pakistan’s Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, Bilal Bin Saqib, has continued to promote Bitcoin and digital assets as part of the country’s broader financial strategy during a series of engagements in New York.
At a United Nations event held during the 81st General Assembly, Saqib highlighted blockchain, tokenization and digital finance as potential tools for expanding financial inclusion and improving access to global markets. The UN program included a dedicated discussion on blockchain and tokenized assets, with Saqib participating as chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
Pakistan’s Bitcoin Reserve Strategy
Saqib’s push for a strategic Bitcoin reserve builds on a policy initiative Pakistan announced in 2025. The government previously unveiled a state-controlled Bitcoin reserve and said digital assets held in state custody would be retained as a sovereign reserve rather than used for short-term speculation.
The reserve proposal formed part of a wider effort to position Pakistan as a digital-asset and blockchain hub. Authorities have also discussed using surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers.
However, recent UN discussions have focused more broadly on digital infrastructure and regulation rather than representing a formal United Nations endorsement of Bitcoin as a reserve asset.
Global Digital Finance Push
Saqib has increasingly used international forums to argue that emerging economies should help shape digital-asset rules instead of simply adopting frameworks created else where.
His recent UN appearances have emphasized financial inclusion, tokenization and regulatory cooperation. Pakistan has also moved to establish a formal regulatory framework for virtual assets through its Virtual Assets Act 2026 and the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
The government’s strategy reflects a significant shift from Pakistan’s earlier restrictive approach to cryptocurrencies. Officials now see regulated digital assets as a potential component of the country’s financial and technology infrastructure.
For Bitcoin, the development adds another sovereign-level reserve proposal to a growing international debate over whether governments should hold the cryptocurrency as part of their national financial strategies.
