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In a remarkable acknowledgment of Pakistan’s growing role in the global digital assets revolution, The Wall Street Journal has recognized Mr. Bilal bin Saqib, Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, among the world’s most influential figures shaping the future of cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence (AI), and financial diplomacy.
The WSJ’s in-depth investigative report titled “How a Billionaire Felon Boosted Trump’s Crypto Company en Route to a Pardon,” published on October 31, 2025, mentions Bilal bin Saqib’s name 11 times, reflecting the publication’s keen interest in his leadership and his impact at the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and digital finance.
The report highlights Mr. Saqib alongside global icons such as Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance; members of the Trump family; and leading Emirati investors, portraying him as a new-generation leader in the blockchain era.
Bilal Bin Saqib, a British-Pakistani entrepreneur and LSE graduate honored with an MBE, became Pakistan’s Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain in 2025. Previously heading the Pakistan Crypto Council, he has led national efforts to develop a regulated digital assets framework.
Under his leadership, Pakistan announced its first Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and dedicated 2,000 MW of surplus power for crypto mining and AI data centers, signaling the country’s growing ambition to become a key player in global blockchain innovation.
Under Bilal bin Saqib’s leadership, Pakistan has rapidly evolved into one of the fastest-growing crypto economies globally, ranked third worldwide, providing global exchanges, institutional investors, and mining companies access to a transparent and regulated South Asian market.
Recently, Mr. Saqib represented Pakistan at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, where he engaged with global leaders, investors, and pioneers of artificial intelligence, including the CEOs of J.P. Morgan and Ripple, the former CEO of Google, the founder of Reddit, and the Prime Minister of Albania, among others. True to form, he once again drew global attention toward Pakistan as a nation demonstrating forward-looking leadership in emerging fields like cryptocurrency, blockchain, and AI.
Experts have described The Wall Street Journal’s coverage as both symbolic and strategic, signaling a new era for Pakistan. Recognition from one of the world’s most respected financial publications reaffirms that Pakistan is emerging as a thought leader in the global digital economy, with Bilal bin Saqib proudly carrying the nation’s flag into the new world of artificial intelligence and blockchain-driven innovation.
