Overview
- Pakistanis are estimated to hold $20–30 billion in asset‑backed crypto, with trading potentially scaling toward $300 billion, though figures remain indicative without a legal framework.
- An SBP payments official said a central bank digital currency has been in development since 2022, confirming a prototype backed by World Bank and IMF support and a pilot phase ahead.
- Pakistan Banks Association president Zafar Masud projected $20–25 billion in crypto‑related opportunities and said a rupee stablecoin is under serious consideration.
- Conference speakers warned that postponing regulation could forfeit about $25 billion in economic gains and urged a cautious, staged legalisation focused on clear rules.
- Cybersecurity and consumer‑protection safeguards were highlighted as prerequisites, with CBDC and stablecoin pilots seen as tools to cut remittance costs and expand financial inclusion.