Pakistan is set to embark on a significant foray into the cryptocurrency landscape, with the government announcing plans to establish a strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve and allocate substantial energy resources to support Bitcoin mining operations.

The announcement, delivered by Minister of State for Blockchain and Crypto Bilal Bin Saqib at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, signals a bold new direction for the nation’s digital asset policy.

Minister Bin Saqib revealed that Pakistan’s initiative to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve draws inspiration from similar nascent plans within US President Donald Trump’s administration.

The US strategy reportedly involves populating its reserve, at least initially, with Bitcoin holdings seized from criminal and civil forfeitures, estimated to be around 200,000 BTC.

He also noted that the Pakistani government is closely monitoring the US’s legislative efforts concerning stablecoins, specifically the ‘Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act,’ stating they are following it “very carefully.”

Emphasizing a long-term commitment, Bin Saqib assured that, much like the bitcoins earmarked for the U.S. strategic reserve, Pakistan does not intend to liquidate its holdings.

“This wallet, the national bitcoin wallet, is not for speculation or hype,” Bin Saqib declared.

“We will be holding these bitcoins and we will never, ever sell them.”

This HODL (Hold On for Dear Life) approach underscores a belief in Bitcoin’s enduring value and its potential as a national asset.

Powering the future: energy allocation for mining and AI

Beyond the strategic reserve, Pakistan is taking concrete steps to foster a domestic Bitcoin mining industry.

Minister Bin Saqib announced that the government has earmarked a substantial 2,000 megawatts of electricity specifically for Bitcoin mining operations and AI data centers.

This significant energy allocation is a clear invitation to global players in the crypto mining and infrastructure sectors.

“We want to welcome all miners to come to Pakistan, all the infrastructure players to come to Pakistan and build with us,” Bin Saqib proclaimed, signaling an open-door policy aimed at attracting international investment and expertise to develop the country’s digital infrastructure.

‘Just the beginning’: a broader vision for crypto adoption

According to Minister Bin Saqib, the establishment of a Bitcoin strategic reserve and the support for mining are merely the initial steps in Pakistan’s broader embrace of the cryptocurrency industry.

He highlighted the transformative potential of digital assets for the nation’s large unbanked population.

“We have over 100 million unbanked people. They lack tools for saving, for investment, and we want to change that. We want them to break their economic classes,” Bin Saqib explained.

“And I really believe that crypto and blockchain can help us take that quantum leap.”

He further articulated a vision that includes tokenizing illiquid national assets and implementing digital identification systems.

“So Pakistan is looking for allies. Pakistan is looking for access, because Pakistan wants to build,” he concluded, emphasizing a collaborative approach to achieving these ambitious goals.

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