Minister of State and Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), Bilal Bin Saqib, delivered an inspiring address at the Point Zero Forum 2026 in Zurich, emphasizing Pakistan’s pivotal role in reshaping and restructuring the global financial system. It was officially announced today that Bin Saqib highlighted how the traditional understanding of money-defined by borders and currencies-is evolving.
In his speech, Bin Saqib highlighted that money has transformed into software, transcending national boundaries. He argued that nations with significant digital asset usage must decide whether to govern this new infrastructure or risk losing control over it. Representing one of the world”s largest digital-asset markets, Bin Saqib”s message resonated as a declaration of Pakistan”s intent to actively participate in crafting the rules of the new financial paradigm.
During a panel discussion titled “Unchaining Tokenized Money: Stablecoins, CBDCs, and the Race for Scale,” Bin Saqib shared the stage with Dr. Mampho Modise, Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank. Together, they explored the current adoption of tokenised money, barriers to scalability, and the path towards interoperability among CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenised systems.
Bin Saqib articulated a “Pakistan-first strategy,” advocating for emerging economies to shape the future of tokenised finance rather than adopting pre-existing frameworks from other regions. He stressed that for countries like Pakistan, where digital assets are already widely embraced, the priority is effective governance rather than prohibition.
The Point Zero Forum, co-organised by the Global Finance and Technology Network and Switzerland”s State Secretariat for International Finance, serves as a crucial platform for global policymakers and industry leaders. The 2026 edition focused on the theme “A financial system rewired: trust, compliance and protocols in a shifting world,” attracting over 2,000 participants.
Pakistan”s prominent position in the discussions reflects its rapid progression in the digital finance arena. Ranking third globally for grassroots crypto adoption, the nation has leveraged its young, mobile-centric population and significant remittance inflows to integrate digital assets into its economy. With PVARA at the helm, Pakistan is now crafting regulatory frameworks to align with its digital asset adoption, marking a significant shift in its financial landscape.