Bilal Bin Saqib: The Youngest Technocrat Driving Pakistan’s Leap Into the Digital Economy

As the global race to regulate digital assets accelerates, Pakistan has unexpectedly emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic markets for crypto adoption, fintech innovation, and young digital talent. At the center of this transformation is Bilal Bin Saqib, Pakistan’s Minister for Crypto and Blockchain, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA). At just 30, he represents a new generation of public leadership that blends policy, technology, and global perspective.

Recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and awarded an MBE by King Charles III for his social impact work, Bilal is widely seen as Pakistan’s youngest technocrat and a symbol of institutional renewal. His appointment marks one of the first times in the region that a government has entrusted a portfolio as complex as digital assets to a leader from the millennial generation. For a country where 65 percent of the population is under 30, this shift is not just cosmetic; it signals a recalibration of governance toward emerging technologies that will define the next era of economic competitiveness.

Bilal’s rise is rooted in an uncommon blend of technical literacy, global exposure, and public service credentials. A graduate of the London School of Economics, he has built a diverse profile across entrepreneurship, academia, and policy. Before joining government, he founded multiple ventures, contributed to global NGOs, and advised startups across Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. His early entry into Bitcoin in 2016 and his experience as an angel investor gave him firsthand insight into the promise and pitfalls of decentralized technologies long before they entered mainstream policy conversations.

Pakistan itself is uniquely positioned for this moment. With over 40 million active crypto users, 36 billion dollars in annual remittances, and the fourth-largest freelance population in the world, the country has organically developed one of the largest digital grassroots economies in Asia. Millions of Pakistanis already earn, transact, learn, and build online, forming a parallel digital economy that operates far ahead of regulation. The rapid expansion of mobile broadband and the rise of a digitally native middle class have made Pakistan a top-three global crypto adoption market according to Chainalysis 2025.

Yet until recently, this activity existed in a regulatory vacuum. Under Bilal’s stewardship, the government has taken decisive steps to build the institutions, rules, and infrastructure necessary to bring this informal digital economy into the formal sector. At the center of this effort is PVARA, a newly created regulatory authority designed to bring clarity to exchanges, custodians, brokers, and token issuers. Modeled on global best practices from Dubai’s VARA, Singapore’s MAS, and the EU’s MiCA framework, PVARA aims to make Pakistan one of the first emerging markets with a comprehensive licensing framework for virtual asset service providers.

Beyond the regulatory space, Bilal has become one of the most vocal advocates for leveraging emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and robotics to reshape Pakistan’s economic trajectory. He has argued that Pakistan’s advantage lies not in competing with legacy institutions but in leapfrogging into the future by building AI-native and tech-forward governance systems. His work promoting the country’s youth, freelancers, and startup ecosystem has positioned Pakistan as a rising innovation hub within the Global South.

Bilal’s influence extends far beyond policy drafting. His public communications, diplomatic engagements, and representation at global forums such as the UN, the World Economic Forum, and international tech summits have helped shift Pakistan’s global narrative from risk to opportunity. He has become a bridge between global investors and local builders, creating a sense of momentum and credibility that is rarely seen in emerging market policymaking.

In a world where nations are competing not just for capital but for talent, intelligence, and digital sovereignty, Bilal Bin Saqib stands out as the archetype of a 21st-century public leader. His blend of youth, global experience, and technological fluency offers a blueprint for how emerging economies can navigate the turbulence of the digital age. Through his leadership, Pakistan is no longer merely catching up; it is carving out a place in the global digital economy on its own terms