ISLAMABAD: Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance and a leading global figure in the cryptocurrency space, has been appointed as a strategic adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), in what officials described as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital finance ambitions.
The appointment was announced on Monday during a meeting of the PCC chaired by Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, according to a press release issued by the Finance Division.
The session was attended by key government stakeholders. Separate meetings were held between Zhao and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
“This is a landmark moment for Pakistan,” Aurangzeb said. “We are sending a clear message to the world: Pakistan is open for innovation. With Zhao onboard, we are accelerating our vision to make Pakistan a regional powerhouse for Web3, digital finance, and blockchain-driven growth.”
The PCC was launched last month with the aim to regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets into Pakistan’s financial system.
The council is tasked with formulating policy, supporting infrastructure development, and guiding the adoption of digital finance across the public and private sectors.
Zhao, who built Binance into the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, will advise the PCC on key areas such as regulation, infrastructure, education, and market adoption.
His appointment comes weeks after the Finance Ministry announced its intention to form a National Crypto Council to position Pakistan in line with global trends.
“Pakistan is a country of 240 million people, over 60 per cent of whom are under the age of 30. The potential here is limitless,” Zhao said in the official statement.
The Finance Division described the move as “groundbreaking” and said it marked Pakistan’s entry into a new era of technological transformation.
The press release added that Zhao’s appointment positioned the country alongside leading Web3-friendly jurisdictions such as Singapore, Dubai, and Switzerland.
