Who is Bilal Bin Saqib- social entrepreneur leading Pakistan's crypto push?
Pakistan last week unveiled its first government-led Strategic Bitcoin Reserve - a move aimed at attracting global investment and signaling a long-term commitment to digital assets.
The announcement came shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), as his special assistant on blockchain and cryptocurrency, with the status of Minister of State.
Saqib revealed the initiative while delivering a keynote address at Bitcoin Vegas 2025, attended by US Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr, Dawn reported. 'Pakistan is no longer defined by its past.
It is being reborn as a forward-looking hub of digital innovation,' he said.
Here's what to know about the man at the center of Pakistan's crypto transformation:
Who is Bilal Bin Saqib?
Saqib is the co-founder of Tayaba, a social enterprise focused on addressing Pakistan's water crisis. As reported by Forbes, its flagship product- the H2O wheel- allows users to transport up to 40 liters of water, significantly easing the daily burden on women and children in rural areas. Tayaba has distributed over 5,500 wheels across Pakistan.
Saqib's responsibilities include crafting a FATF-compliant regulatory framework for digital assets, launching national bitcoin mining projects, and integrating blockchain into sectors like finance, land records, and governance. He will also oversee licensing for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and support the development of the Web3 ecosystem, reported Dawn.
He holds a degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics and serves on the advisory board of Queen Mary University of London. Prior to entering the blockchain space in 2017, Saqib worked as an international strategy consultant for a decade, mainly helping UK firms expand into Asia and Africa.
In 2023, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by King Charles for his Covid-19 relief work in the UK through the One Million Meals initiative. He has also been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his contributions to social impact.
Saqib is the founder of
Web3 Pakistan
, the country's first and largest blockchain community. He has helped organize major blockchain events such as ETHBarcelona and has spoken at the World Economic Forum and NFT NYC.
According to Dawn, Pakistan currently ranks among the top 10 countries for crypto adoption, with over 40 million users and a crypto trading volume exceeding $300 billion annually. In this context, Bilal Bin Saqib is emerging as a key figure shaping Pakistan's digital future.
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