World Liberty Financial and Pakistan Crypto Council Join Forces to Advance Blockchain and DeFi

World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralised finance (DeFi) project with ties to the Trump family, has signed a letter of intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) to advance blockchain, stablecoin, and DeFi initiatives in Pakistan.

The agreement was formalised on 26 April during a high-level meeting between WLFI co-founders Zak Folkman, Zach Witkoff, and Chase Herro, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, and senior officials.

Central to the partnership is the creation of regulatory sandboxes aimed at piloting blockchain-based financial solutions.

This move aligns with Pakistan’s broader ambition to position itself as a regional crypto hub—an ambitious pivot in a part of the world where many governments maintain cautious or restrictive approaches to digital assets.

Pakistan and WLFI Set Sights on DeFi Growth

The partnership with WLFI will focus on several key initiatives, including advancing DeFi protocols, exploring the tokenisation of real-world assets like real estate and commodities, expanding stablecoin applications for remittances and trade, and providing strategic guidance on blockchain infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stated:

“Pakistan’s youth and technology sector are our greatest assets. Through partnerships like this, we are opening new doors for investment, innovation, and global leadership in the blockchain economy.”

With more than 25 million active crypto users and roughly $300 billion in annual crypto transactions, Pakistan is quickly establishing itself as a rising force in the digital economy.

Its youthful population—over 64% under the age of 30—offers a strong foundation for rapid blockchain adoption.

Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, emphasized that the collaboration aims to empower Pakistan’s young generation and firmly position the country within the evolving global financial system.

Saqib recently joined WLFI as an advisor, further strengthening the partnership between the two organisations.

Pakistan Powers Ahead in Crypto Space

Despite surging adoption, regulatory uncertainty continues to push many Web3 businesses toward more welcoming regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The Pakistan Crypto Council, however, is working to turn this challenge into an opportunity.

Local reports suggest the government is preparing to unveil a comprehensive cryptocurrency regulatory framework, aiming to position Pakistan among the world's fastest-growing crypto hubs.

In a recent meeting with an international delegation focused on crypto investment and blockchain development, Aurangzeb stressed the need to explore the sector's potential rather than dismiss it.

The delegation featured notable figures such as Gentry Beach Jr., who has pledged $1 billion in funding to Pakistan, alongside tech entrepreneur Nikita Goldsmith, blockchain consultant Alex Malkov, and Cosmic Wire CEO Jerad Finck.

Plans are also underway to establish a National Crypto Council—an advisory body that would unite regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders to shape the country's crypto future.

This marks a notable departure from the government's earlier stance; until recently, the State Bank of Pakistan and former finance officials strongly opposed cryptocurrency adoption, citing financial risks.

The landscape is changing quickly, with Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) recently joining the Pakistan Crypto Council as a Strategic Advisor.

More recently, Saqib emphasized that Pakistan’s delay in licensing and regulating crypto exchanges has caused it to miss out on significant financial opportunities.

He expressed in a recent interview with local media:

“We have to bring the local industry under an effective regulatory framework. Regulations must focus on licensing for exchanges, bring-in licensing fee, establish reasonabl taxation policies so that users do not offload their crypto in foreign countries. They should be able to use and transact crypto safely, without any concerns in Pakistan.”

Could Pakistan’s bold strategy reshape South Asia’s crypto landscape?