Emre Yumlu 
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has voiced serious concerns over Pakistan’s decision to allocate 2,000 megawatts of electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers. This move comes amid ongoing negotiations within the country’s extended financial support program.
Announced last week, the initiative aims to attract independent miners, blockchain companies, and firms operating in the artificial intelligence sector. However, the IMF has demanded an urgent explanation from Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance regarding the legal framework of this decision and the electricity allocation. Given the country’s long-standing energy shortages and financial pressures, the timing of the plan has drawn criticism.
According to local sources, the IMF was not informed about the plan in advance and is questioning the legal status of crypto assets in Pakistan. There are also concerns about the possible effects on electricity tariffs and the distribution of energy resources.
An official involved in the ongoing talks said, “The IMF is expected to take a tougher stance on this matter. The economic team is already facing difficult questions, and this decision has only added more complexity to the talks.”
IMF Plans Special Session on Crypto Mining
Currently holding virtual meetings with Pakistani officials, the IMF delegation is planning a separate session to address the government’s energy allocation for Bitcoin mining.
The electricity allocation is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to integrate digital assets into the national economy. One of the key elements of this strategy is the newly established Pakistan Digital Asset Authority (PDAA), approved by the Ministry of Finance on May 21.
The PDAA will regulate exchanges, wallets, stablecoin projects, and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. It will also oversee the tokenization of national assets in accordance with international standards, such as those set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
This development follows Pakistan’s unveiling of its first strategic Bitcoin reserve at the Bitcoin Vegas 2025 conference held last week. The move is seen as a clear signal of Islamabad’s shift toward digital finance.
At the conference, Bilal bin Saqib, crypto adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, announced the launch of a national Bitcoin wallet and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the digital asset sector.
Pakistan Enters a New Phase in Crypto Policy
The Pakistani government began significantly shifting its stance on cryptocurrencies at the beginning of 2025. In February, the proposed “National Crypto Council” was tasked with preparing a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets.
Among the Council’s early proposals were plans to utilize the country’s surplus energy for Bitcoin mining and data centers, along with the establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve.
In April, Changpeng Zhao, co-founder of Binance, was appointed as an adviser to the Council. In this role, Zhao is expected to provide support in areas such as crypto regulation, blockchain infrastructure, and the expansion of digital assets.
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