Crypto awareness in Singapore has reached an all-time high, with 94% of respondents in a recent survey indicating familiarity with at least one digital asset.

However, ownership declined, falling to 29% in 2025 from 40% the previous year, according to Independent Reserve’s fifth annual Singapore Crypto Market Survey released on May 21.

The survey, conducted in February with 1,500 participants, revealed that men remain more active in crypto investing than women, 35% compared to 24%.

Millennials and Gen X (aged 25–54) dominate the investor base, comprising 71% of all holders. Among those trading at least once a week, 76% fall into this age group.

Related: Singapore’s Grab taps Solana DePIN project Natix to ‘reshape mapping’

Half of Singaporean investors plan to increase holdings

Despite the decline in ownership, sentiment remains strong. Over half of current holders (53%) plan to increase their positions in the next 12 months, and 17% of non-holders expressed interest in entering the market.

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to be the anchor of the crypto market in Singapore. It is held by 68% of crypto investors and viewed by 86% as either a currency, store of value or investment asset. Notably, 77% say Bitcoin will be worth over $100,000 by 2030.

Direct ownership remains the preferred method of exposure, with 61% choosing to hold their assets directly instead of through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Arbitrage trading is also on the rise, with 67% of respondents saying they had sold part or all of their holdings to capitalize on price swings in the past year.

Bitcoin is the most recognized crypto in Singapore, with 91% awareness, followed by Ethereum at 54%, Dogecoin at 41%, Shiba Inu at 23%, and Solana at 22%. Source: Independent Reserve

Meanwhile, 46% of investors hold stablecoins, primarily for trading and DeFi activities, with 83% of these tied to the US dollar.

Memecoins remain a speculative corner of the market, with 28% of respondents holding at least one, with Dogecoin (DOGE) being the most popular.

Related: Singapore Exchange to list Bitcoin futures in H2 2025: Report

Singapore becomes a global crypto hub

Singapore has cemented its role as a global hub for blockchain and cryptocurrency development, according to a December 2024 report by ApeX Protocol.

The study said Singapore leads the world with 1,600 blockchain patents, 2,433 crypto-related jobs, and 81 active cryptocurrency exchanges.

Hong Kong placed second, with 890 blockchain patents, 1,163 jobs in the sector, and 52 crypto exchanges, reflecting the city’s continued push in the digital asset space.

In 2024, Singapore doubled down on its regulatory momentum. The Monetary Authority of Singapore issued 13 major payment institution licenses to crypto exchanges, more than twice the number granted in 2023.

Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs: Inside story

Travelers using cryptocurrency for booking arrangements spend more than twice as much as regular travelers using fiat money, according to a joint report from Binance Pay and crypto travel platform Travala shared with Cointelegraph.

Crypto-based bookings on Travala reached $80 million in 2024, up from $45 million the year before. Crypto travelers are also outspending their fiat counterparts, with an average booking value of  $1,211 per transaction, over 2.5 times more than fiat users who spend $469.

Additionally, the report said crypto users were three times more valuable over their lifetime due to longer stays and higher repeat bookings, with crypto travelers 57% more likely to make a repeat hotel purchase.

Source: Binance Pay, Travala

Juan Otero, CEO of Travala, attributed these travel preferences to the flexible nature of Web3 jobs:

“Many also work in the digital asset industry or have flexible, remote work lifestyles, which makes them more likely to travel frequently and stay in one place for longer while seeking out destinations that support seamless, global payments.”

Crypto-based transactions have become more common in the travel sector and beyond. Airlines that have integrated digital currencies into their booking systems have seen a 40% boost in bookings, with travel and hospitality representing 14% of all crypto transactions in 2024, according to a Feb. 21 report by Triple-A.

Related: Crypto spending will grow, but fiat isn’t going anywhere: Mercuryo CEO

The main benefit of using crypto for travel is its borderless, global utility, Jonathan Lim, the global head of Binance Pay, told Cointelegraph. “Travelers can skip currency exchange lines, avoid foreign transaction fees, and pay instantly using assets they already hold,” he added.

A growing number of crypto users also drives the increase in travelers using crypto to pay for trips. Triple-A’s report shows that cryptocurrency ownership has a compound annual growth rate of 99%, significantly outpacing the growth of traditional payment methods. Among crypto owners, 65% express interest in using it for payments.

Founded in 2017, Travala is among the most popular crypto-native travel platforms, which enables users to pay for services like flights, hotel stays and tours with 141 different cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC) and USDC (USDC) via Binance Pay. 

Related: Bhutan launches tourism crypto payments with Binance Pay and DK Bank

Crypto payment covers more and more retail industries

The first real-world Bitcoin transaction — 10,000 BTC for two pizzas — occurred 15 years ago today, on May 22, 2010, now commemorated as Bitcoin Pizza Day. Since then, crypto payments have expanded into high-end retail, luxury goods and more recently, fast food.

First real-world purchase using BTC Source: bitcointalk.org

The first retail businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments were primarily targeted at high-income consumers. In 2021, fashion brand Philipp Plein became one of the pioneers in accepting crypto, followed by Gucci, luxury watchmakers Franck Muller and Norgain, as well as high-end car dealerships and manufacturers.

As the crypto holder base expands, more retailers are beginning to accept digital currencies for everyday transactions. On May 16, American fast food outlet Steak’n Shake began to accept Bitcoin as payment.

Yet even with the Lightning Network implementation, a Steak’n Shake customer revealed that a $5 burger could cost over $8 with network fees and take over 20 minutes to confirm payment.

Related: Bitcoin accepted at fast food chain Steak ’n Shake from May 16

With Binance Pay, payments are confirmed within seconds. Lim told Cointelegraph that’s because “Binance Pay operates as an offchain, closed-loop payment solution within the Binance ecosystem.”

Still, most crypto travel payments on Travala are made using stablecoins like Tether’s USDt (USDT) and Circle’s USDC (USDC). Binance Pay transactions are ultimately converted into fiat at the point of sale by the merchant or payment partner based on a predetermined exchange rate.

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David Sacks, US President Donald Trump’s top adviser on crypto and artificial intelligence, said the administration expects the stablecoin bill to clear the Senate with bipartisan backing.

“We have every expectation now that it’s going to pass,” Sacks told CNBC on May 21, following a key procedural vote that saw 15 Democrats join Republicans to clear the filibuster threshold.

The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act is the most advanced federal effort yet to establish a legal framework for dollar-pegged digital assets.

Sacks said the bill could trigger “trillions of dollars” in demand for US Treasurys by unlocking stablecoin growth under clear rules.

“We already have over $200 billion in stablecoins — it’s just unregulated,” he added. “If we provide legal clarity, we create enormous demand for Treasurys practically overnight.”

Related: GENIUS Act ‘legitimizes’ stablecoins for global institutional adoption

Stablecoin bill moves forward despite Trump controversy

The stablecoin bill’s progress comes despite controversy surrounding the Trump family’s crypto dealings. Critics have raised concerns that the administration benefits from the legislation, given its ties to World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm backed by Trump family members that recently launched a stablecoin, USD1.

The US Senate voted 66–32 to advance debate on the GENIUS stablecoin bill. Source: US Senate

The token is backed by US Treasurys and dollar deposits and has received a $2 billion investment commitment from Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund via Binance.

Sacks, who disclosed the sale of $200 million in crypto-related holdings before joining the White House, declined to comment on whether the president or his family may financially gain from the bill’s passage.

Despite momentum, final passage is not guaranteed. Senator Josh Hawley has added a controversial provision to the bill that would cap credit card late fees, a move that could cost the legislation support from financial industry allies.

Related: Hong Kong passes stablecoin bill, set to open licensing by year-end

Banks panicking over yield-bearing stablecoins

In a May 21 post titled “The Empire Lobbies Back,” New York University professor Austin Campbell said the US banking industry is “panicking” over the rise of yield-bearing stablecoins, which threaten their profit model.

An excerpt of Campbell’s X post. Source: Austin Campbell

Campbell criticized the banking lobby for pressuring lawmakers to defend their interests and block competition from interest-paying stablecoins.

He argued that banks rely on fractional reserve practices to profit while offering low returns to depositors, and fear stablecoins may expose and disrupt that system.

As reported by Cointelegraph, the US Securities and Exchange Commission in February approved the first yield-bearing stablecoin security by Figure Markets.

According to a May 21 report from Pendle, yield-bearing stablecoins have soared to $11 billion in circulation since January 2024, representing 4.5% of the total stablecoin market.

Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs: Inside story 

Newly updated guidelines from Dubai’s crypto regulator include provisions on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and clarify rules for issuers. 

On May 19, Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) released its updated Rulebook for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) operating in the region. The regulator gave market participants until June 19 to comply with the new rules. 

The regulator previously told Cointelegraph that it had enhanced supervisory mechanisms and brought consistency across activity-based rules. One of the more prominent changes includes regulatory clarity on RWA tokens. 

Irina Heaver, partner at the United Arab Emirates-based law firm NeosLegal, told Cointelegraph that the updated rules clarify RWA issuance and distribution. 

“Issuing real-world asset tokens and listing them on secondary markets is no longer theoretical,” Heaver told Cointelegraph. “It’s now a regulatory reality in Dubai and the broader UAE.”

A “viable” path to realize RWA hype

Heaver compared RWAs to security token offerings (STOs), an earlier attempt from the crypto space to tokenize securities like stocks, bonds and real estate investment trusts. However, the UAE crypto lawyer said that STOs “died a peaceful death in 2018 to 2019.” 

The lawyer told Cointelegraph STOs did not work out because of the lack of regulatory clarity, viable secondary market trading venues, institutional investor appetite and liquidity. 

Still, the situation is different for RWAs. Heaver told Cointelegraph that RWAs are the next foundational layer for institutional adoption of blockchain and virtual assets. Heaver said that VARA’s new rules already cover them as Asset-Referenced Virtual Assets (ARVA) tokens. She said: 

“VARA’s newly updated Virtual Asset Issuance Rulebook (May 2025) addresses these failures head-on. Regulated exchanges and broker-dealers in Dubai are now authorized to distribute and list ARVA tokens.”

The lawyer said this solves an issue in jurisdictions like Switzerland, where token issuance is possible, but listing and secondary trading remain unregulated. 

Related: Dubai gov’t agencies to link real estate registry with property tokenization

Lawyer shares requirements for RWA issuers

Heaver said ARVA tokens are defined under Dubai law as representing direct or indirect ownership of real-world assets, granting entitlement to receive or share income and purporting to maintain a stable value by reference to real-world assets or income. 

ARVA tokens are also backed or collateralised by such real-world assets or constitute a derivative, wrapped, duplicated, or fractionalised version of another ARVA. 

The lawyer said issuers must meet specific requirements, including a Category 1 Virtual Asset Issuance license, a comprehensive white paper and a risk disclosure statement. 

In addition, issuers must have a paid-up capital of 1.5 million UAE dirhams (about $408,000) or 2% of reserve assets held. The issuers are also subjected to monthly independent audit obligations and must adhere to ongoing supervisory oversight. 

“VARA is providing regulatory clarity, and it’s giving the industry a viable, enforceable path to turn the hype of RWA tokenization into reality,” Heaver told Cointelegraph. “This matters because it marks a shift, from theory to execution, from fiction to framework.”

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The hacker behind the data breach targeting Coinbase users mocked blockchain investigator ZachXBT with an onchain message following a major crypto swap.

On May 21, the hacker used Ethereum transaction input data to write “L bozo,” followed by a meme video of NBA player James Worthy smoking a cigar.

The message came after the attacker swapped about $42.5 million from Bitcoin (BTC) to Ether (ETH) via THORChain.

ZachXBT flagged the message on his Telegram channel, linking it to the same entity responsible for the Coinbase data breach affecting at least 69,400 users.

Coinbase hacker trolling ZachXBT. Source: ZachXBT.

On May 22, blockchain security firm PeckShield reported that the hacker had continued to move funds, swapping 8,697 ETH for 22 million Dai (DAI). A separate but closely linked address, which received 9,081 ETH via THORChain, also converted the assets into 23 million DAI.

Related: DOJ is investigating Coinbase data breach— Report

Coinbase hit with lawsuits after breach

The Coinbase breach, first reported in a filing with the Maine Attorney General’s office, occurred in December 2024 and was discovered on May 11. The stolen data includes names, home addresses and other personal information.

Following the disclosure, the attackers demanded a $20 million ransom in Bitcoin to prevent the release of the stolen data. Coinbase refused and instead offered a $20 million bounty for information leading to the identification of the hackers.

The company estimates a potential financial impact between $180 million and $400 million due to remediation costs and customer compensation.

Coinbase has also faced a wave of lawsuits following the revelation. At least six legal complaints were filed on May 15 and 16, with plaintiffs accusing the exchange of failing to implement adequate security measures and mishandling its response to the breach.

Related: Coinbase data leak could put users in physical danger: TechCrunch founder

THORChain under scrutiny for criminal use

The Coinbase hacker’s use of THORChain to swap $42.5 million worth of Bitcoin into Ether comes as the protocol faces growing scrutiny over its role in facilitating illicit transactions.

In March, the platform came under fire after its swap volume surged following the $1.4 billion Bybit hack. The protocol generated over $5 million in revenue after processing $5.4 billion in swap volume, with over $1 billion moved in a single day.

Blockchain security firms identified North Korea’s Lazarus Group as the main suspect, using THORChain to launder a significant portion of the stolen funds.

Source: Lookonchain

The controversy intensified when a THORChain developer, known as “Pluto,” resigned after a vote to block transactions linked to Lazarus was overturned.

Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs: Inside story

The hacker behind a $300 million theft targeting Coinbase users has mocked blockchain investigator ZachXBT with an onchain message following a major crypto swap.

On May 21, the hacker who previously stole data from at least 69,400 Coinbase users used Ethereum transaction input data to write “L bozo,” followed by a meme video of NBA player James Worthy smoking a cigar.

The message came after the attacker swapped approximately $42.5 million from Bitcoin (BTC) to Ether (ETH) via THORChain.

ZachXBT flagged the message on his Telegram channel, linking it to the same entity responsible for the Coinbase data breach affecting at least 69,400 users.

Coinbase hacker trolling ZachXBT. Source: ZachXBT.

On May 22, blockchain security firm PeckShield reported that the hacker had continued to move funds, swapping 8,697 ETH for 22 million Dai (DAI). A separate but closely linked address, which received 9,081 ETH via THORChain, also converted the assets into 23 million DAI.

Related: DOJ is investigating Coinbase data breach— Report

Coinbase hit with lawsuits after breach

The Coinbase breach, first reported in a filing with the Maine Attorney General’s office, occurred in December 2024 and was discovered on May 11. The stolen data includes names, home addresses and other personal information.

Following the disclosure, the attackers demanded a $20 million ransom in Bitcoin to prevent the release of the stolen data. Coinbase refused and instead offered a $20 million bounty for information leading to the identification of the hackers.

The company estimates a potential financial impact between $180 million and $400 million due to remediation costs and customer compensation.

Coinbase has also faced a wave of lawsuits following the revelation. At least six legal complaints were filed between May 15 and 16, with plaintiffs accusing the exchange of failing to implement adequate security measures and mishandling its response to the breach.

Related: Coinbase data leak could put users in physical danger: TechCrunch founder

THORChain under scrutiny for criminal use

The Coinbase hacker’s use of THORChain to swap $42.5 million worth of Bitcoin into Ether comes as the protocol faces growing scrutiny over its role in facilitating illicit transactions.

In March, the platform came under fire after its swap volume surged following the $1.4 billion Bybit hack. The protocol generated over $5 million in revenue after processing $5.4 billion in swap volume, with over $1 billion moved in a single day.

Blockchain security firms identified North Korea’s Lazarus Group as the main suspect, using THORChain to launder a significant portion of the stolen funds.

Source: Lookonchain

The controversy intensified when a THORChain developer, known as “Pluto,” resigned after a vote to block transactions linked to Lazarus was overturned.

Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs: Inside story

The hacker behind a $300 million theft targeting Coinbase users has mocked blockchain investigator ZachXBT with an onchain message following a major crypto swap.

On May 21, the hacker who previously stole data from at least 69,400 Coinbase users used Ethereum transaction input data to write “L bozo,” followed by a meme video of NBA player James Worthy smoking a cigar.

The message came after the attacker swapped approximately $42.5 million from Bitcoin (BTC) to Ether (ETH) via THORChain.

ZachXBT flagged the message on his Telegram channel, linking it to the same entity responsible for the Coinbase data breach affecting at least 69,400 users.

Coinbase hacker trolling ZachXBT. Source: ZachXBT.

On May 22, blockchain security firm PeckShield reported that the hacker had continued to move funds, swapping 8,697 ETH for 22 million Dai (DAI). A separate but closely linked address, which received 9,081 ETH via THORChain, also converted the assets into 23 million DAI.

Related: DOJ is investigating Coinbase data breach— Report

Coinbase hit with lawsuits after breach

The Coinbase breach, first reported in a filing with the Maine Attorney General’s office, occurred in December 2024 and was discovered on May 11. The stolen data includes names, home addresses and other personal information.

Following the disclosure, the attackers demanded a $20 million ransom in Bitcoin to prevent the release of the stolen data. Coinbase refused and instead offered a $20 million bounty for information leading to the identification of the hackers.

The company estimates a potential financial impact between $180 million and $400 million due to remediation costs and customer compensation.

Coinbase has also faced a wave of lawsuits following the revelation. At least six legal complaints were filed between May 15 and 16, with plaintiffs accusing the exchange of failing to implement adequate security measures and mishandling its response to the breach.

Related: Coinbase data leak could put users in physical danger: TechCrunch founder

THORChain under scrutiny for criminal use

The Coinbase hacker’s use of THORChain to swap $42.5 million worth of Bitcoin into Ether comes as the protocol faces growing scrutiny over its role in facilitating illicit transactions.

In March, the platform came under fire after its swap volume surged following the $1.4 billion Bybit hack. The protocol generated over $5 million in revenue after processing $5.4 billion in swap volume, with over $1 billion moved in a single day.

Blockchain security firms identified North Korea’s Lazarus Group as the main suspect, using THORChain to launder a significant portion of the stolen funds.

Source: Lookonchain

The controversy intensified when a THORChain developer, known as “Pluto,” resigned after a vote to block transactions linked to Lazarus was overturned.

Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs: Inside story

The hacker behind a $300 million theft targeting Coinbase users has mocked blockchain investigator ZachXBT with an onchain message following a major crypto swap.

On May 21, the hacker who previously stole data from at least 69,400 Coinbase users used Ethereum transaction input data to write “L bozo,” followed by a meme video of NBA player James Worthy smoking a cigar.

The message came after the attacker swapped approximately $42.5 million from Bitcoin (BTC) to Ether (ETH) via THORChain.

ZachXBT flagged the message on his Telegram channel, linking it to the same entity responsible for the Coinbase data breach affecting at least 69,400 users.

Coinbase hacker trolling ZachXBT. Source: ZachXBT.

On May 22, blockchain security firm PeckShield reported that the hacker had continued to move funds, swapping 8,697 ETH for 22 million Dai (DAI). A separate but closely linked address, which received 9,081 ETH via THORChain, also converted the assets into 23 million DAI.

Related: DOJ is investigating Coinbase data breach— Report

Coinbase hit with lawsuits after breach

The Coinbase breach, first reported in a filing with the Maine Attorney General’s office, occurred in December 2024 and was discovered on May 11. The stolen data includes names, home addresses and other personal information.

Following the disclosure, the attackers demanded a $20 million ransom in Bitcoin to prevent the release of the stolen data. Coinbase refused and instead offered a $20 million bounty for information leading to the identification of the hackers.

The company estimates a potential financial impact between $180 million and $400 million due to remediation costs and customer compensation.

Coinbase has also faced a wave of lawsuits following the revelation. At least six legal complaints were filed between May 15 and 16, with plaintiffs accusing the exchange of failing to implement adequate security measures and mishandling its response to the breach.

Related: Coinbase data leak could put users in physical danger: TechCrunch founder

THORChain under scrutiny for criminal use

The Coinbase hacker’s use of THORChain to swap $42.5 million worth of Bitcoin into Ether comes as the protocol faces growing scrutiny over its role in facilitating illicit transactions.

In March, the platform came under fire after its swap volume surged following the $1.4 billion Bybit hack. The protocol generated over $5 million in revenue after processing $5.4 billion in swap volume, with over $1 billion moved in a single day.

Blockchain security firms identified North Korea’s Lazarus Group as the main suspect, using THORChain to launder a significant portion of the stolen funds.

Source: Lookonchain

The controversy intensified when a THORChain developer, known as “Pluto,” resigned after a vote to block transactions linked to Lazarus was overturned.

Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs: Inside story

Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance has reportedly endorsed the creation of a dedicated body to regulate blockchain-based financial infrastructure in the country.

The Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) will serve as a regulatory body to oversee licensing, regulate exchanges, custodians, wallets, tokenized platforms, stablecoins and decentralized finance applications, according to a May 21 report from the state-owned broadcaster, PTV.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, federal minister for finance and revenue, told the broadcaster, “Pakistan must regulate not just to catch up, but to lead” in the industry.

“With the PDAA, we are creating a future-ready framework that protects consumers, invites global investment, and puts Pakistan at the forefront of financial innovation,” he said.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue. Source: Pakistan Ministry of Finance

The PDAA will also be tasked with tokenizing national assets and government debt, facilitating monetization of Pakistan’s surplus electricity through regulated Bitcoin mining, and helping startups build blockchain-based solutions at scale.

The new regulatory body was part of a recommendation from the Pak­istan advisory body, the Cryptocurrency Cou­ncil, which was launched on March 14 and has former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao as an adviser.

“This is not just about crypto — it’s about rewriting our financial future, expanding access, and creating new export channels through tokenization, digital finance and Web3 innovation,” said Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of Pakistan’s Crypto Council.

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency previously proposed a regulatory framework for digital assets designed to address terrorism financing, money laundering provisions, and Know Your Customer concerns, according to am April 10 report from local newspaper, The Express Tribune.

Pakistan crypto market rises despite early skepticism  

In May 2023, former Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Aisha Ghaus Pasha said that Pakistan would never legalize cryptocurrencies due to the potential for digital assets to circumvent regulations created by the Financial Action Task Force, the supranational organization that polices finance for money laundering. 

Related: Pakistan Crypto Council proposes using excess energy for BTC mining

However, the following year, Pakistan ranked highly in Chainalysis’ 2024 crypto adoption index, coming in ninth, mainly due to strong retail adoption and transactions at centralized services.

Pakistan ranked highly in Chainalysis’ 2024 crypto adoption index, coming in 9th. Source: Chainalysis

Meanwhile, the online data platform Statista shows Pakistan’s crypto market is “experiencing rapid growth” and estimates the number of crypto users is expected to amount to over 27 million by 2025, out of a population of 247 million.

At the same time, revenue in the Pakistan crypto market is projected to reach $1.6 billion in 2025. The United States still leads the pack, with its crypto market generating an estimated revenue of over $9.4 billion, according to Statista data. 

Magazine: How crypto laws are changing across the world in 2025

Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance has reportedly endorsed the creation of a dedicated body to regulate blockchain-based financial infrastructure in the country.

The Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) will serve as a regulatory body to oversee licensing, regulate exchanges, custodians, wallets, tokenized platforms, stablecoins and decentralized finance applications, according to a May 21 report from the state-owned broadcaster, PTV.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, federal minister for finance and revenue, told the broadcaster, “Pakistan must regulate not just to catch up, but to lead” in the industry.

“With the PDAA, we are creating a future-ready framework that protects consumers, invites global investment, and puts Pakistan at the forefront of financial innovation,” he said.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue. Source: Pakistan Ministry of Finance

The PDAA will also be tasked with tokenizing national assets and government debt, facilitating monetization of Pakistan’s surplus electricity through regulated Bitcoin mining, and helping startups build blockchain-based solutions at scale.

The new regulatory body was part of a recommendation from the Pak­istan advisory body, the Cryptocurrency Cou­ncil, which was launched on March 14 and has former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao as an adviser.

“This is not just about crypto — it’s about rewriting our financial future, expanding access, and creating new export channels through tokenization, digital finance and Web3 innovation,” said Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of Pakistan’s Crypto Council.

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency previously proposed a regulatory framework for digital assets designed to address terrorism financing, money laundering provisions, and Know Your Customer concerns, according to am April 10 report from local newspaper, The Express Tribune.

Pakistan crypto market rises despite early skepticism  

In May 2023, former Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Aisha Ghaus Pasha said that Pakistan would never legalize cryptocurrencies due to the potential for digital assets to circumvent regulations created by the Financial Action Task Force, the supranational organization that polices finance for money laundering. 

Related: Pakistan Crypto Council proposes using excess energy for BTC mining

However, the following year, Pakistan ranked highly in Chainalysis’ 2024 crypto adoption index, coming in ninth, mainly due to strong retail adoption and transactions at centralized services.

Pakistan ranked highly in Chainalysis’ 2024 crypto adoption index, coming in 9th. Source: Chainalysis

Meanwhile, the online data platform Statista shows Pakistan’s crypto market is “experiencing rapid growth” and estimates the number of crypto users is expected to amount to over 27 million by 2025, out of a population of 247 million.

At the same time, revenue in the Pakistan crypto market is projected to reach $1.6 billion in 2025. The United States still leads the pack, with its crypto market generated an estimated revenue of over $9.4 billion, according to Statista data. 

Magazine: How crypto laws are changing across the world in 2025