Islamabad – The Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has officially invited leading global crypto exchanges and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to apply for licensing under the country’s newly introduced Virtual Assets Ordinance 2025.
A Step Toward Secure Digital Finance
According to PVARA, the initiative aims to establish a transparent and secure digital assets ecosystem in Pakistan. The framework is designed to align with international guidelines set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.
Pakistan’s Growing Digital Assets Market
Pakistan is already home to over 40 million digital asset users, with an estimated annual trading volume exceeding $300 billion, highlighting the massive potential of the sector.
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Licensing for Global Compliance
The new licensing regime is open to exchanges regulated by international bodies such as the US SEC, UK FCA, EU VASP, UAE VARA, and Singapore MAS. Applicants must demonstrate full compliance with anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CTF), and cybersecurity standards.
Building Pakistan’s Digital Financial Future
Bilal bin Saqib, Chairman of PVARA and Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, stated that this move is intended to encourage top global firms to play an active role in shaping an inclusive digital financial ecosystem in Pakistan.
Submissions for licensing are being accepted on a rolling basis via email at PVARA’s headquarters in Islamabad.
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