ISLAMABAD: The federal government has officially announced the creation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) — a dedicated body to oversee and regulate the country’s growing virtual asset economy in compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance revealed that the new authority is part of a broader national strategy to formalise digital assets and foster innovation through blockchain technology. The move follows recommendations by the recently formed Pakistan Cryptocurrency Council (PCC).
According to the ministry, the PDAA will serve as the central regulator for Pakistan’s digital asset landscape, tasked with promoting financial inclusion, encouraging responsible innovation, and ensuring adherence to FATF standards.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who also chairs the PCC, said, “Pakistan must not only regulate to catch up but to lead. With PDAA, we are laying down a future-ready regulatory framework that protects consumers, attracts global investment, and positions Pakistan at the forefront of financial innovation.”
The PDAA will oversee licensing, regulatory compliance, and innovation across a wide range of digital finance segments, including crypto exchanges, custodial services, digital wallets, tokenised platforms, stablecoins, and decentralised finance (DeFi) applications — all under a unified and dynamic framework.
This initiative places Pakistan alongside progressive jurisdictions like the UAE, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, which have already established digital asset regulators to support innovation while maintaining global financial integrity.
The authority will also aim to bring oversight to Pakistan’s informal crypto market, which is estimated to exceed $25 billion. Additionally, it will facilitate the tokenisation of government assets and sovereign debt, offer regulatory clarity for both domestic and international investors, and allow for the monetisation of surplus electricity through licensed Bitcoin mining.
A key focus of the PDAA will be enabling young innovators and startups to develop scalable blockchain solutions. Through this initiative, the government hopes to carve out a strong position in the global digital economy, fostering responsible tech advancement and building investor confidence.
“This isn’t just about cryptocurrency,” said Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council. “It’s about redefining Pakistan’s financial future — expanding financial access, boosting exports through tokenisation, and unlocking the potential of Web3 and digital finance.”
