Pakistan launches crypto licensing, regulator says ban era has ended
AI Market Summary
Pakistan's new virtual-asset licensing regime and open application portal signal a shift from prohibition to regulated participation. The requirement for existing providers to secure No Objection Certificates by Sept. 5 introduces near-term compliance urgency, while offering longer-term clarity for exchanges and service providers. Given Pakistan's high adoption ranking, formalization could support broader onshore liquidity and institutional engagement across major cryptoassets.
Impact level
● Medium
Affected assets
BTC/USDT+6.60%
AI Insight · BTC/USDTAI Insight
▲ Bullish
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Pakistan's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (@PakistanVARA) on Friday issued licensing regulations and opened an application portal, marking the start of a formal licensing regime for crypto firms.
Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib (@BilalBinSaqib) said the country's eight-year prohibition period is over. "Get licensed. Get compliant. Come build in Pakistan," he said.
Under the Virtual Assets Act, existing providers must apply for No Objection Certificates by September 5 or stop operating.
Pakistan ranked third in Chainalysis's 2025 global crypto adoption index.
