For years, Pakistan was one of the most hostile countries in the world toward cryptocurrency. In 2018, the State Bank of Pakistan banned banks from dealing with crypto exchanges. People who used Bitcoin or Ethereum risked having their accounts frozen. Yet today, Pakistan sits at 3rd or 4th in the world for crypto adoption - right behind India and the United States. How did that happen?
From Ban to Breakthrough
It wasn’t magic. It was necessity. When inflation hit 38% in 2023 and the Pakistani rupee lost nearly half its value against the dollar in two years, people stopped trusting the banking system. Savings vanished overnight. Remittances from abroad - which make up 7% of Pakistan’s GDP - became harder and more expensive to receive. Traditional money transfer services like Western Union charged up to 10% in fees. That’s why millions turned to crypto. Stablecoins, especially USDT (Tether), became the new lifeline. People bought them on peer-to-peer platforms like Paxful and LocalBitcoins, then used them to pay for goods, send money to family overseas, or hold value until the rupee stabilized. By 2025, an estimated 20 million Pakistanis - nearly 9% of the population - owned cryptocurrency. That’s more than the entire population of Sweden.How Chainalysis Got It Right
The Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index is the most trusted source for this data. It doesn’t just count how many people own crypto. It measures total value received through centralized exchanges, decentralized apps, and peer-to-peer networks - adjusted for local purchasing power. Pakistan ranked 3rd because its users weren’t just gambling on Bitcoin. They were using crypto as money. Compare that to Nigeria, which used to be #2. Nigeria’s crypto usage dropped in 2025 after new banking restrictions made P2P trading harder. Pakistan didn’t make that mistake. Instead, it doubled down on accessibility.The Regulatory Flip
The real turning point came in July 2025, when Pakistan launched the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (a government body created to license and oversee cryptocurrency exchanges, wallet providers, and token issuers). This wasn’t just a formality. It was a full reversal of the 2018 ban. Suddenly, crypto businesses could open bank accounts. Exchanges could operate legally. Users could file taxes on their gains. Alongside that, the Pakistan Crypto Council (a public-private industry body led by CEO Bin Saqib, tasked with advising the government and coordinating with global partners) was formed. It brought together local exchanges, fintech startups, and international players like World Liberty Financial - a blockchain firm linked to the Trump family’s business interests. This wasn’t just about regulation. It was about legitimacy. People stopped seeing crypto as a gray-market tool. It became a financial tool - like a bank account, but faster and cheaper.
Who’s Using Crypto - and Why
Most users aren’t day traders. They’re teachers, drivers, nurses, and small shop owners. A 2025 survey by the Lahore School of Economics found that 68% of crypto users in Pakistan used it for remittances. Another 21% used it to protect savings from inflation. Only 6% traded for speculative profit. Take Ayesha, a nurse in Faisalabad. She gets paid in rupees, but her brother works in Saudi Arabia. Before, sending him $500 cost her $50 in fees and took five days. Now, she buys USDT on a local app, sends it to his wallet, and he cashes out in riyals within minutes - for less than $2 in fees. Or Muhammad, a Karachi-based textile exporter. He used to wait 30 days for payments from buyers in Turkey. Now, he invoices in USDT. Payments arrive in 15 minutes. He converts half to rupees, keeps half in crypto for future imports. No bank delays. No currency risk. This isn’t speculation. It’s survival.How Pakistan Compares to the World
Here’s how Pakistan stacks up against other top crypto nations in 2025:| Rank | Country | Adoption Score | Primary Use Case | Regulatory Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 87.2 | Remittances, P2P trading | Regulated |
| 2 | United States | 82.1 | ETFs, institutional investment | Regulated |
| 3 | Pakistan | 78.9 | Stablecoins, savings, remittances | Regulated |
| 4 | Vietnam | 76.5 | DeFi, gaming, P2P | Unclear, but tolerated |
| 5 | Indonesia | 74.3 | Stablecoins, retail payments | Regulated |
Notice something? Pakistan and Indonesia are the only two countries on this list where the top use case is not trading or investing. It’s utility. That’s why experts like Chainalysis chief economist Kim Grauer say Pakistan’s growth is sustainable.
The Hidden Risks
None of this is perfect. Pakistan’s crypto boom still has cracks. The partnership with World Liberty Financial raised eyebrows. The firm’s founder, Zach Witkoff, has no prior experience in financial regulation. Yet he met with Pakistan’s army chief and prime minister. Critics worry this isn’t about financial inclusion - it’s about political favor-trading. Also, while the regulatory framework exists, enforcement is uneven. Some exchanges still operate in the shadows. Tax collection on crypto gains is still in its infancy. And if the rupee suddenly stabilizes, will people still use crypto? The real test comes in 2026. Will Pakistan keep building infrastructure - like crypto-based microloans for small businesses or blockchain land registries? Or will it become another case of hype without substance?
What Comes Next
Pakistan’s story isn’t about becoming the next crypto hub like Switzerland. It’s about becoming the next financially resilient nation. With 230 million people, a young population, and a history of economic instability, crypto isn’t a trend - it’s a tool. The government now talks about “digital rupee” pilots and blockchain-based social welfare payments. That’s the real endgame: not replacing banks, but making them optional. If Pakistan continues down this path - focusing on utility, not speculation - it won’t just stay in the top 5. It could become the model for how developing nations use crypto to rebuild trust in money.Why This Matters for You
Even if you’re not in Pakistan, this story matters. It shows that crypto adoption isn’t about technology. It’s about need. When people lose faith in their currency, they find alternatives. No ban can stop that. No regulation can control it - unless it’s designed to serve real people. Pakistan didn’t win because it had the best tech. It won because it listened to its people.Why does Pakistan rank so high in crypto adoption despite past bans?
Pakistan’s high ranking comes from urgent real-world needs: hyperinflation, expensive remittances, and a broken banking system. People turned to crypto - especially stablecoins - to protect savings and send money home. The 2025 regulatory shift didn’t create adoption; it just made it legal.
Is crypto legal in Pakistan now?
Yes. Since July 2025, crypto is fully legal under the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. Exchanges must be licensed, users must pay taxes on gains, and banks can now work with crypto firms. This ended the 2018 ban and turned crypto into a regulated financial service.
What’s the most popular cryptocurrency in Pakistan?
USDT (Tether) is by far the most used. It’s a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, so it doesn’t swing in price like Bitcoin. People use it to hold value, send remittances, and pay for goods. Bitcoin is traded too, but mostly for speculation - not daily use.
How many people in Pakistan use crypto?
An estimated 20 million people - about 9% of the population - owned cryptocurrency by 2025. That’s one of the highest adoption rates in the world. Globally, only 6.9% of people own crypto, so Pakistan’s rate is more than 30% higher than average.
Is Pakistan’s crypto growth sustainable?
So far, yes. Unlike speculative booms in other countries, Pakistan’s adoption is driven by real utility: remittances, savings, and payments. If the government continues building infrastructure - like crypto-based loans and digital wallets - adoption will keep growing. But if politics or foreign influence take over, the gains could stall.
How does Pakistan compare to Nigeria or India?
India leads globally in total crypto volume, but most of its use is for trading and speculation. Nigeria dropped from #2 to #6 after new banking rules made P2P trading harder. Pakistan’s advantage is its focus on stablecoins for daily needs - not gambling. That makes its growth more stable and harder to reverse.
Can I send crypto to Pakistan safely?
Yes, but use licensed platforms. Avoid unregulated exchanges. Send USDT via trusted wallets like Trust Wallet or MetaMask. Make sure the recipient knows how to cash out through a licensed Pakistani exchange like BuyUcoin or Coinmama Pakistan. Always check the latest regulatory updates before sending.
What’s the biggest threat to Pakistan’s crypto future?
Over-reliance on foreign companies with political ties. If crypto policy becomes shaped by private interests rather than public need, trust will erode. The real risk isn’t regulation - it’s corruption disguised as innovation.
