Pakistan and Salvador join forces in terms of crypto. Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council, met the president of Salvador Nayib Bukele in San Salvador. The objective was to establish closer cooperation on digital assets, while the two nations strengthen their adoption of bitcoin.
In short
- Pakistan and Salvador combine for cooperation around Bitcoin and Crypto.
- Pakistan plans to allocate 2,000 MW to Bitcoin mining and build a national reserve.
- The IMF has expressed concerns about the energy impact and the regulatory risks of this initiative.
Bitcoin mining, national reserve and IMF
This partnership marks a new chapter in the role of the crypto on the world scene. For Salvador, it is one more step towards the legitimization of its Bitcoin strategy. For Pakistan, it is a sign of a turn towards the adoption of the blockchain infrastructure, despite the pressure of international institutions.
Pakistan has great ambitions. The country plans to allocate 2,000 megawatts to BTC mining and create a Bitcoin national reserve. But he needs IMF approval. Pakistan is currently subject to an IMF program of $ 7 billion which runs until 2027, and any major change in energy policy must receive the downstream of the fund.
The IMF has expressed fears concerning market distortion, especially if crypto minors benefit from subsidized electricity. The Pakistani electrical network often works with excess capacity, especially in winter, but offering preferential rates could disrupt the dynamics of Offer-Demande and highlight the existing infrastructure.
Despite these reluctance, the crypto experiences a boom at the national level. Between 15 and 20 million Pakistanis already have cryptocurrencies, according to SAQIB.
Pakistan's regulatory turn
To structure this expanding market, Pakistan launched in July 2025 the regulatory authority for virtual assets in Pakistan. This partnership is responsible for delivering licenses and supervising exchanges, stablecoins, wallets and other services related to digital assets.
This follows a letter of intent from April 2025 between Pakistan Crypto Council and World Liberty Financial, supported by Trump. This agreement aims to accelerate the adoption of blockchain via regulatory sandboxes and stablecoins pilots.
What are the next steps?
The two countries face obstacles. Salvador must still deal with IMF restrictions on new Bitcoin purchases. However, it holds more than 6,000 BTCs, worth around $ 745 million, and remains engaged in its vision centered on the crypto. Pakistan, on the other hand, must juggle between its crypto ambitions, economic recovery and strong budgetary surveillance. The IMF estimates that it will need more than $ 100 billion in external funding by 2029. However, the meeting between SAQIB and Bukele shows how digital assets support international alliances.
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