Pakistan makes history: Appoints first-ever ‘Crypto Prime Minister’ in radical Fintech overhaul

In a move that’s shaking up the financial world, Pakistan just did something no government has ever done before. The country just hired a Crypto Prime Minister. Shehbaz Sharif has named tech entrepreneur Bilal Bin Saqib as the country’s first-ever minister-level crypto advisor – effectively creating the world’s first “Crypto Prime Minister” position.

The bold appointment, which took effect immediately, puts the CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council in charge of shaping national blockchain policy. What’s more surprising? He’s doing the job for free, accepting the powerful position without salary or government benefits.

This isn’t just bureaucratic reshuffling. The move signals Pakistan’s dramatic U-turn from cracking down on digital assets to actively embracing them. As countries worldwide struggle to regulate crypto, Pakistan is betting big that putting a true believer in charge could give it a first-mover advantage in the next financial revolution.

New Crypto Prime Minister to lead blockchain overhaul

The crypto prime minister will now oversee the development of FATF-compliant crypto regulations, initiate state-backed Bitcoin mining projects, and implement blockchain in critical sectors like governance, land records, and public finance.

“This is not just a government position—it’s a generational responsibility,” said Saqib during a press briefing. “Pakistan has the intellectual capital and energy to lead the blockchain revolution in South Asia.”

From Forbes to FATF: The man behind the Crypto Prime Minister role

A graduate of the London School of Economics and a recipient of the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) from King Charles III, Bilal Bin Saqib has a reputation that reaches beyond borders.

He made waves by appointing former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council and has previously been listed in Forbes 30 Under 30.

“His appointment signals a strategic pivot,” said Sumera Azam, Director of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). “The crypto prime minister will be key in reshaping digital finance while ensuring national security protocols are upheld.”

Just a day before Saqib’s appointment, Pakistan allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI-driven centers—a move that positions the country as a major regional player in blockchain infrastructure.

This energy commitment, tied closely to the crypto prime minister’s strategic roadmap, signals a long-term vision to align digital innovation with national economic goals.

Pakistan’s crypto revolution gains momentum

The crypto prime minister also enters office on the heels of a key partnership between World Liberty Financial—a group backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump—and the Pakistan Crypto Council.

Their signed Letter of Intent aims to drive crypto adoption in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.

The Ministry of Finance, in mid-May, greenlit the creation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), a body that will regulate exchanges, wallets, token platforms, stablecoins, and DeFi projects.

This move is widely seen as laying the groundwork for the crypto prime minister’s broader regulatory agenda.

Though unofficial, many in Pakistan’s tech and finance circles have already dubbed Bilal Bin Saqib the country’s crypto prime minister—a symbolic nod to his sweeping influence on all things blockchain.

His zero-salary status underscores the ideological commitment behind the appointment. “Blockchain is not a luxury—it’s an inevitability,” Saqib told CryptoBrief. “My role is to ensure Pakistan doesn’t just catch up—we lead.”

With the appointment of Bilal Bin Saqib as crypto prime minister, Pakistan has signaled a bold willingness to invest in digital transformation at the highest level of governance.

From regulatory frameworks to renewable energy mining infrastructure, every sign points to a government leaning fully into blockchain’s potential.

As crypto becomes less speculative and more strategic, Pakistan’s new crypto prime minister is poised to be the architect of an era that merges innovation, regulation, and public policy. The Bit Gazette will continue to observe the market and report as events unfold.