Pakistan’s parliament has passed the Virtual Assets Act 2026, a law that formally establishes government oversight of the country’s cryptocurrency sector.
The legislation confirms the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) as the national regulator for digital assets. The agency, created in July 2025, will oversee licensing and supervision of crypto businesses operating in the country.
Under the new law, PVARA will also enforce anti-money laundering rules and international sanctions complianceacross the digital asset industry.
The bill has been approved by both the National Assembly and the Senate, but still requires the signature of President Asif Ali Zardari to become law.
Pakistan began shifting its stance on cryptocurrencies in late 2024, moving to regulate the sector after years of resistance from regulators.
Since then, the country has announced plans for a Bitcoin strategic reserve and allocated 2,000 megawatts of electricity for crypto mining and AI data centers as it seeks to build a digital asset ecosystem.
Officials say the government aims to develop a licensing framework aligned with global financial and anti-money laundering standards.
Featured image from: cointelegraph.com