Pakistan's Crypto Council Proposes Using Runoff Energy to Mine Bitcoin (BTC)

Bilal Bin Saqib, the CEO of Pakistan's Crypto Council, has proposed using the country's runoff energy to fuel Bitcoin (BTC) mining

Bilal Bin Saqib, the CEO of Pakistan's Crypto Council, has proposed using the country's runoff energy to fuel Bitcoin (BTC) mining at the council's inaugural meeting on March 21.

According to an article from The Nation, the council is exploring comprehensive regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies in order to attract foreign direct investment and establish Pakistan as a crypto hub.

The meeting included lawmakers, the Bank of Pakistan's governor, the chairman of Pakistan's Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP), and the federal information technology secretary. Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb had this to say about the meeting:

"The initiative to form a Crypto Council has been taken by the government with a view to studying in detail the legal, regulatory, and economic implications of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, keeping in mind the Islamic principles of finance and the country's economic and social context. This initiative is also part of the government's broader strategy to attract foreign direct investment and create new opportunities for economic growth."

The Crypto Council represents a radical departure from the government of Pakistan's previous stance on crypto. In May 2023, former minister of state for finance and revenue, Aisha Ghaus Pasha said crypto would never be legal in the country.

Pasha cited anti-money laundering restrictions under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as the primary motivation for the government's anti-crypto stance.

The presence of Bitcoin miners can stabilize electrical grids. Source: Science Directo

Related: Pakistan eyes crypto legal framework to boost foreign investment

Pakistan follows the United States in embracing crypto

The government of Pakistan moved to regulate cryptocurrencies as legal tender on Nov. 4, 2024 — the same day as the elections in the United States.

Following the re-election of Donald Trump in the US and the Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump moved quickly to establish pro-crypto policies at the federal level.

On Jan. 23, President Trump signed an executive order establishing the Working Group on Digital Assets — an executive advisory council tasked with exploring comprehensive regulatory reform on digital assets.

President Trump signs executive order establishing the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets. Source: The White House

The Jan. 23 order also prohibited the government from researching, developing, or issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

President Trump also signed an executive order creating a Bitcoin strategic reserve and a separate digital asset stockpile in March 2025 that will likely include cryptocurrencies made by U.S.-based firms.