Latest news with #BitcoinVegas2025
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Who is Bilal Bin Saqib- social entrepreneur leading Pakistan's crypto push?
Bilal Bin Saqib (File photo taken from LinkedIn) 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. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Bitcoin Vegas in US: Pakistan unveils first govt-led Bitcoin reserve
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Crypto & Blockchain Bilal Bin Saqib on Thursday announced Strategic Bitcoin Reserve at Bitcoin Vegas 2025. In front of an elite audience that included the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr., Bilal Bin Saqib, Pakistan's Minister for Crypto & Blockchain and CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, delivered a commanding keynote at Bitcoin Vegas 2025, unveiling the country's first government-led Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and with it, a radically new vision of Pakistan on the global map. Bilal's message was bold: Pakistan is no longer defined by its past. It is being reborn as a forward-looking hub of digital innovation powered by its youth, sharpened by necessity, and led by a new generation of tech statesmen. I'm not just here as a minister, Bilal said. I'm here as the voice of a generation a generation that is online, on-chain, and unstoppable. At just 34 years old, Bilal Bin Saqib has become the leading voice of a new Pakistan one with over 40 million crypto wallets, a median age of 23, and one of the largest and most active freelancer economies in the world. While other leaders talk about potential, Bilal is unlocking it with bold national moves that put Pakistan at the centre of the global crypto conversation. In his keynote, Bilal announced the establishment of a national Bitcoin wallet, holding digital assets already in state custody not for sale or speculation, but as a sovereign reserve signalling long-term belief in decentralised finance. He also thanked President Donald Trump for his role as a peacemaker in the recent India-Pakistan conflict and for his commitment to crypto adoption. He also revealed that the Government of Pakistan has allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity in Phase 1 for Bitcoin mining and AI data centres, opening doors to sovereign miners, tech firms, and clean energy partners around the world. To harness this momentum, Bilal is also leading the creation of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA), a regulatory body designed to empower builders, protect investors, and formalise digital finance frameworks for the future. 'Both Pakistan and Bitcoin have suffered from bad PR.' Bilal declared. But if you look past the headlines, you'll see something else: talent, resilience, and vision. His speech was not only a historic moment for Pakistan, but a call to global builders: If you're building something real come build it in Pakistan. Come build wallets for the unbanked. Come tokenize land. Come scale your mission with our youth and our unstoppable grit. As global eyes turned to Las Vegas, Bilal Bin Saqib delivered more than a keynote. He delivered a blueprint for the future of emerging markets in Web3 one that positions Pakistan as a tech-forward, youth-powered and opportunity-rich nation ready to lead. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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First Post
5 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan does crypto somersault to woo Trump, launches first govt-led strategic bitcoin reserve
Many see Islamabad's newfound interest in crypto as a way to grow close business ties with the family of US President Donald Trump read more In a move being hailed as 'strategic' in Pakistan, the country has announced the establishment of its first government-backed Strategic Bitcoin reserve. On Wednesday (May 28), Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib made the announcement at the Bitcoin Vegas 2025 conference in Las Vegas. The stakes are high for Pakistan, as evident through the presence of US Vice President JD Vance and the sons of President Donald Trump, Eric and Donald Trump Jr, at the event. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Pakistan is no longer defined by its past. It is being reborn as a forward-looking hub of digital innovation — powered by its youth, sharpened by necessity, and led by a new generation of tech statesmen,' Saqib said. What is behind Pakistan's newfound love for crypto? Many see Islamabad's newfound interest in crypto as a way to grow close business ties with the family of US President Donald Trump. Saqib himself admitted that Pakistan's crypto move was inspired by the US. 'We want to thank the US because we are getting inspired from them,' Bilal said. It's to be noted that Trump, in March, had signed an executive order to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Pakistan simply took a leaf out of Trump's playbook in order to build closer ties with the US administration. This is just another move in a series of steps taken by Islamabad to promote crypto in the country in a sudden and urgent push. Earlier, the government-backed Pakistan Crypto Council struck a deal with World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency platform backed by Trump, to 'accelerate' blockchain innovation in the country. Pakistan has taken other crypto-friendly measures too. For instance, the country's finance ministry earlier this week announced plans to assign 2000 megawatts of electricity to power Bitcoin mining. Saqib also assured in his Bitcoin Vegas Summit speech that Pakistan is looking to hold crypto reserves for long term. He said the government will hold BTC in a national wallet and 'never ever' sell them. The geopolitical angle Many experts believe that these crypto dealings by Pakistan may have influenced Trump's recent declarations about ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad. Trump, while praising the leaders of both India and Pakistan, recently claimed that he helped broker a ceasefire between the two nations after the two countries almost went to a war following the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan too has endorsed Trump's narrative, whereas India has disputed it, saying the understanding was reached strictly on bilateral terms and the US had a limited role to play. Hussain Nadeem, a policy strategist and Pakistani AI expert, recently explained how Pakistan's pivot to crypto was not an economic move but political, with no emphasis on 'public good'. 'The way this regime is approaching Crypto, it has unfortunately become a yet new con that has politics, not public good, as an end goal. Why?' Nadeem asked on X. He added, 'Because the geopolitics obsessed ruling elite in Pakistan has no interest in Blockchain/Crypto or how it could empower millions of people, improve democratic governance, enhance transparency and turn around Pakistan's economy. If they actually wanted to do good, they wouldn't be throttling internet or shutting down social media or ruining the entire tech economy in Pakistan. The entire decentralised philosophy runs entirely contrary to the regime's interest.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The regime has only ONE interest in Crypto: Access to the Trump White House, and sadly this hype is all about that, nothing more,' he wrote.
Deccan Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Pakistan announces establishment of its first Bitcoin reserve at US event
Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib made the announcement on Wednesday at the Bitcoin Vegas 2025 conference in Las Vegas.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Business
- First Post
7 things about Bilal Bin Saqib, the man behind Pakistan's big Bitcoin bet
Here are 7 things to know about Bilal Bin Saqib, Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) Chief Executive Officer and the man behind Islamabad's big Bitcoin bet read more On Thursday, Pakistan unveiled the cash-strapped nation's first government-led Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The launch came just days after the country's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, appointed Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) Chief Executive Officer Bilal Bin Saqib as his special assistant on blockchain and cryptocurrency. Saqib was also given the status of Minister of State. With its latest endeavour, Pakistan is seeking to lure American investment, given US President Donald Trump's inclination towards cryptocurrency. While delivering an address at Bitcoin Vegas 2025, in front of United States Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr, Saqib spoke about the country's latest endeavour, Dawn reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Pakistan is no longer defined by its past. It is being reborn as a forward-looking hub of digital innovation — powered by its youth, sharpened by necessity, and led by a new generation of tech statesmen,' said Saqib, in a statement issued by his office. 'I'm not just here as a minister,' he said. 'I'm here as the voice of a generation — a generation that is online, on-chain, and unstoppable," he said during the event. Here's everything you need to know about the man at the centre of Pakistan's crypto push. 7 things to know about Bilal Bin Saqib Saqib is the founder of Tayaba, a social enterprise that aims to provide solutions to the water crisis in Pakistan. One of the initiatives of his company was the 'H2O wheel,' which is a plastic wheel container connected to a metal bar that helps to reduce the burden on women and children who carry water in rural Pakistan. His company turned out to be a success, distributing 5,500 H2O wheels in Pakistan. As per the government press release, in his new role, Saqib will be responsible for developing a comprehensive, FATF-compliant regulatory framework for digital assets. He will also be responsible for launching Bitcoin mining initiatives and overseeing blockchain integration in governance, finance, and land records, Dawn reported. Saqib was part of the '30 under 30' list in the year 2020. He received his MBE in 2023 for contributions to the UK's National Health Service. It is pertinent to note that MBE stands for 'Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire," and is awarded to those who provide outstanding service to the community. According to Dawn, Pakistan currently has 40 million crypto users and an annual crypto trading volume of over $300 billion. 'Pakistan's unique demographic and digital landscape offers an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog into the future of technology, where blockchain and crypto will drive economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness," Saqib said at the Vegas event.
