- During the Islamabad visit, Zhao was appointed advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council.
- With Zhao’s help, Pakistan aims to boost crypto regulation, adoption, and investment.
- Zhao earlier advised Kyrgyzstan to help develop its crypto ecosystem for national growth.
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, ex-CEO of Binance, has been appointed as an advisor to the newly formed Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC). The announcement was made during Zhao’s recent visit to Islamabad, signaling the landmark development in Pakistan’s digital finance ambitions. On April 7, 2025, Zhao expressed his honour in supporting Pakistan’s crypto journey, aligning with the official announcement.
Zhao’s appointment was confirmed after meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, which positions him as a key figure in shaping Pakistan’s crypto policy, infrastructure, education, and adoption strategy.
The Pakistan Crypto Council, launched in March 2025 under the country’s Finance division, is tasked with creating regulatory frameworks for digital assets. This council, led by Finance Minister Aurangzeb, includes senior representatives from the State Bank of Pakistan, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and ministries of IT and law. With Zhao now on board, Pakistan aims to create a compliant and innovation-friendly environment for blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Pakistan has over 20 million crypto users and aims to attract potential investments, streamline remittances, and foster homegrown digital startups to position itself as a digital finance hub in South Asia. Adding to this, Aurangzeb said,
We are sending a clear message to the world: Pakistan is open for innovation. With CZ on board, we are accelerating our vision of making Pakistan a regional power through Web3, digital finance, and blockchain-based development.
Zhao, who had earlier advised Kyrgyzstan on blockchain development, expressed optimism about Pakistan’s potential, highlighting its population of 240 million, with over 60% under the age of 30, as a strong foundation for crypto growth.
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This partnership could prove transformative, helping Pakistan build a transparent regulatory environment and attract foreign capital. The move comes as part of the regional trend where Central and Southern Asia saw over $750 billion in crypto asset inflows, according to Chainalysis data. Further, by 2033, the Southeast Asia crypto market, including countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, is expected to grow by 8.5%, as shown by the data from IMARC Group. With Zhao’s global experience and Pakistan’s untapped digital potential, this collaboration could set the stage for a turning point in South Asia’s crypto landscape.
