Key Takeaways
- Pakistan met with Trump's digital asset team to present its Bitcoin reserve strategy.
- The plan includes using 2,000 megawatts of surplus power for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers.
- The IMF raised concerns about the legality and energy impact of Pakistan's mining initiative.
Pakistan’s Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, Bilal Bin Saqib, visited the White House to discuss cross-border digital asset cooperation with Robert “Bo” Hines, executive director of President Donald Trump’s Council on Digital Assets.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve initiative
The central topic was Pakistan’s new Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, part of a broader effort to position the country as a global hub for digital assets.
Saqib said following the meeting:
From launching our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to unlocking national infrastructure for crypto mining and AI data zones, Pakistan is building a real framework for digital asset adoption and economic modernization.
U.S. digital asset policy leadership
Hines, who was appointed earlier this year, leads digital asset policy under the Trump administration.
He works with Council Chair David Sacks as the U.S. pursues its own leadership in the space.
Legal frameworks for blockchain governance
Saqib also met with officials from the White House Counsel’s Office to address legal frameworks for blockchain governance.
Energy & regulatory plans
Pakistan plans to redirect 2,000 megawatts of surplus power toward Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure, aiming to turn unused energy into digital productivity and jobs.
The country is also formalizing its regulatory structure with the upcoming Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), tasked with overseeing exchanges, custodians, tokenized platforms, and stablecoins.
IMF concerns
However, on May 31, the International Monetary Fund raised concerns about Pakistan’s mining initiative, requesting clarification from the Finance Ministry over the move’s legality amid energy shortages and financial negotiations.
