Pakistan Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Digital Sovereignty or Speculative Gamble?

In a bold move aimed at financial innovation and sovereignty, Pakistan has launched its first government-backed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The announcement came during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, where Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) and newly appointed Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain, confirmed the reserve’s establishment.

According to Saqib, this reserve will be “state-held and never sold,” acting as a national hedge against fiat currency volatility. This initiative places Pakistan among a rare few emerging economies taking active steps toward integrating crypto at a sovereign level.

But with global regulatory uncertainties and Bitcoin’s infamous volatility, some experts question the timing. “It’s high-risk, high-vision,” says blockchain strategist Usman Shahid. “But it’s a massive signal to investors that Pakistan is open for digital business.”

Innovate X View: This move could attract tech startups, digital banks, and global fintech firms looking for crypto-friendly jurisdictions, especially as Western regulators tighten controls.