7 things about Bilal Bin Saqib, the man behind Pakistan’s big Bitcoin bet

On Thursday, Pakistan unveiled the cash-strapped nation’s first government-led Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The launch came just days after the country’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, appointed Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) Chief Executive Officer Bilal Bin Saqib as his special assistant on blockchain and cryptocurrency. Saqib was also given the status of Minister of State.

With its latest endeavour, Pakistan is seeking to lure American investment, given US President Donald Trump’s inclination towards cryptocurrency. While delivering an address at Bitcoin Vegas 2025, in front of United States Vice President JD Vance, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr, Saqib spoke about the country’s latest endeavour, Dawn reported.

“Pakistan is no longer defined by its past. It is being reborn as a forward-looking hub of digital innovation — powered by its youth, sharpened by necessity, and led by a new generation of tech statesmen,” said Saqib, in a statement issued by his office. “I’m not just here as a minister,” he said. “I’m here as the voice of a generation — a generation that is online, on-chain, and unstoppable," he said during the event. Here’s everything you need to know about the man at the centre of Pakistan’s crypto push.

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7 things to know about Bilal Bin Saqib

• Saqib is the founder of Tayaba, a social enterprise that aims to provide solutions to the water crisis in Pakistan.

• One of the initiatives of his company was the ‘H2O wheel,’ which is a plastic wheel container connected to a metal bar that helps to reduce the burden on women and children who carry water in rural Pakistan.

• His company turned out to be a success, distributing 5,500 H2O wheels in Pakistan.

• As per the government press release, in his new role, Saqib will be responsible for developing a comprehensive, FATF-compliant regulatory framework for digital assets.

• He will also be responsible for launching Bitcoin mining initiatives and overseeing blockchain integration in governance, finance, and land records, Dawn reported.

• Saqib was part of the ‘30 under 30’ list in the year 2020.

• He received his MBE in 2023 for contributions to the UK’s National Health Service. It is pertinent to note that MBE stands for “Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire," and is awarded to those who provide outstanding service to the community.

According to Dawn, Pakistan currently has 40 million crypto users and an annual crypto trading volume of over  $300 billion. “Pakistan’s unique demographic and digital landscape offers an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog into the future of technology, where blockchain and crypto will drive economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness," Saqib said at the Vegas event.