Cryptocurrency has always sat in a gray area in Pakistan, neither fully legal nor explicitly banned. However, 2025 has brought a major shift in the country’s approach. With evolving global trends and pressure from financial watchdogs like FATF, Pakistan is now moving towards regulated adoption of crypto assets and virtual currencies.
So, is crypto trading legal in Pakistan today? What’s changed in 2025? And what should investors, traders, and startups know moving forward?
Let’s break it down.
As of July 2025, crypto trading is not fully legal or licensed in Pakistan. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Ministry of Finance continue to prohibit financial institutions from offering crypto services. This means:
Despite the current restrictions, Pakistan is laying the groundwork for a legal and regulated crypto ecosystem.
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| May–June 2025 | Creation of Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) to draft a national crypto policy |
| July 8, 2025 | Introduction of Virtual Assets Ordinance, 2025 |
| July 2025 | Formation of Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) |
This presidential ordinance marks Pakistan’s first formal legal step toward regulating cryptocurrencies and digital assets.
This means Pakistan is no longer ignoring crypto, it’s building the legal scaffolding for it.
Yes, but not immediately. While the legal framework is being prepared, trading will only become fully legal when:
Until then, individuals trading crypto do so at their own risk, with no consumer protection and potential legal scrutiny.
Several factors are pushing Pakistan towards crypto regulation:
PVARA is set to become the SECP of the crypto world in Pakistan. Its duties will include:
Until PVARA’s licensing process begins:
Pakistan is not banning crypto, it is regulating it.
Crypto is on the cusp of legality and legitimacy in the country. With the Virtual Assets Ordinance, the formation of PVARA, and the upcoming CBDC pilot, Pakistan is poised to become a structured part of the global digital economy.
For now, though, wait for licenses before you scale. The groundwork is being laid, and those who stay informed and prepared will benefit the most.
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