Pakistan passes Virtual Assets Bill to legalise cryptocurrencies and regulate digital assets
Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed the Virtual Assets Bill, 2026, formally legalising cryptocurrencies and establishing a regulatory framework for digital assets in the country’s financial system.
The legislation, introduced by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, had previously been approved by the Senate earlier this year. It provides for the creation of a specialised regulatory authority responsible for licensing, supervising and regulating virtual assets and virtual asset service providers (VASPs).
According to the government, the bill recognises virtual assets as an increasingly significant component of the global financial system and seeks to introduce oversight aimed at improving investor protection, transparency and market stability.
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Muhammad Ali Bandial