ISLAMABAD

Pakistan has reportedly aligned its digital asset regulatory framework with international standards, placing it alongside countries such as Israel in the evolving global race to regulate cryptocurrencies and virtual assets, according to industry reports cited by CryptoSlate.

The development highlights Pakistan’s accelerating efforts to formalise its digital finance ecosystem through a structured regulatory regime aimed at licensing, monitoring and supervising virtual asset service providers.

Officials say the framework is designed to enhance financial transparency, ensure compliance with anti-money laundering standards, and create a controlled environment for innovation in blockchain-based services.

The move comes amid a broader policy shift in Pakistan’s financial sector, where regulators have recently taken steps to integrate digital assets into the formal banking system while tightening oversight mechanisms for crypto-related activities.

Industry observers note that Pakistan’s regulatory alignment with global practices signals growing recognition of digital assets as part of mainstream financial infrastructure, rather than an unregulated parallel market.

The country has in recent months established dedicated institutions and legal frameworks for virtual assets, including a regulatory authority tasked with licensing and supervising crypto service providers.

Analysts say the comparison with Israel reflects increasing convergence among mid-tier economies adopting structured regulatory approaches to balance innovation with financial security and investor protection.

The development underscores Pakistan’s ambition to position itself within the global digital economy as it seeks to attract investment, expand fintech adoption and strengthen its position in emerging blockchain markets.