In a landmark diplomatic move, Pakistan and El Salvador have launched the world’s first crypto-based bilateral alliance, signaling a strategic pivot toward digital sovereignty and blockchain diplomacy.
The initiative is spearheaded by Bilal Bin Saqib, Chief Executive of the Pakistan Crypto Council and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Crypto and Blockchain. During a high-level meeting in El Salvador, Saqib met with President Nayib Bukele, the global figure behind Bitcoin’s national adoption, to kickstart a knowledge-sharing and trade collaboration in the Web3 space.
Why This Matters:
El Salvador was the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender and currently holds over 6,200 BTC. With this partnership, Pakistan is signaling serious intent to become a crypto innovation hub in South Asia.
Despite being under a $7 billion IMF program until 2027 which has traditionally discouraged crypto ventures Pakistan is moving toward regulation and strategic growth. 15–20 million Pakistanis already own crypto, and now the state is taking steps to formalize this booming sector.
Key Developments:
- Pakistan allocates 2,000MW for Bitcoin mining infrastructure
- Plans underway for a national Bitcoin reserve
- Formation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority to oversee regulation, exchanges and blockchain use
- Global crypto firms such as World Liberty Financial (with ties to the Trump family) have shown strong interest in Pakistan’s ecosystem
A New Digital Front:
This Pakistan–El Salvador alliance not only offers a platform for shared innovation and policy development, but also challenges the traditional global financial architecture dominated by fiat and IMF regulations.
If successful, this alliance could spark a broader movement among developing nations aiming to leverage blockchain for economic autonomy, financial inclusion, and global partnerships.
