ISLAMABAD: In what it termed a “landmark” initiative, the Ministry of Finance has announced the creation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), a dedicated regulatory body aimed at overseeing digital assets and accelerating the country’s virtual asset economy.
According to an official press statement, the government has approved the formation of the PDAA along with a comprehensive strategy to regulate blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
The primary objective of the PDAA will be to promote innovation that aligns with international standards, particularly those set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), while ensuring economic inclusion and the responsible adoption of digital assets.
“Pakistan must regulate not just to catch up — but to lead,” said Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who also serves as Chairman of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC). “With the PDAA, we are creating a future-ready framework that protects consumers, attracts global investment, and positions Pakistan at the forefront of financial innovation.”
As outlined in the statement, the PDAA will function as a specialized, agile regulatory authority with a clear mandate to oversee licensing, compliance, and innovation across the digital asset landscape. This includes regulating cryptocurrency exchanges, custodians, digital wallets, tokenized platforms, stablecoins, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications—all under a unified framework.
“This strategic move aligns Pakistan with progressive economies such as the UAE, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, which have all established digital asset regulators to foster innovation while maintaining global financial compliance,” the ministry stated.
The PDAA is expected to bring oversight to Pakistan’s estimated $25 billion informal crypto market, support the tokenization of government assets and debt, provide legal clarity for investors, and facilitate the monetization of excess electricity through regulated Bitcoin mining.
Additionally, it aims to empower the country’s youth and startups to develop scalable blockchain-based solutions.
With this initiative, Pakistan is signaling its ambition to become a competitive player in the global digital economy, inviting responsible innovation while building investor confidence and strengthening partnerships with the international community.
“This isn’t just about cryptocurrency — it’s about transforming our financial future, expanding economic access, and opening new export avenues through tokenization, digital finance, and Web3 innovation,” said Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council.
