Pakistan Passes Virtual Assets Act 2026 to Catalyze Crypto Adoption

• Pakistan’s parliament has approved the Virtual Assets Act 2026, which establishes the PVARA.
• The PVARA will license virtual assets providers and combat illegal financial activities.
• Pakistan ranked third in global crypto adoption in 2025, according to Chainalysis.

Pakistan has a new legal framework for Web3 and digital assets dubbed the Virtual Assets Act 2026. On Friday, March 6, Pakistan’s parliament passed the Virtual Assets Act 2026, which establishes the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA).

Pakistan Adopts a New Crypto Regulatory Framework in 2026

According to the announcement, Pakistan’s parliament passed the Virtual Assets Act 2026 to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets and Web3 protocols. PVARA, which was initially constituted through a Presidential ordinance in July 2025, will now regulate and supervise the digital asset sector.

As such, PVARA will work to license virtual assets service providers seeking to operate in Pakistan. Additionally, the PVARA will help Pakistan align its financial industry with global anti-money laundering efforts. PVARA stated,

“The legislation also equips the Authority with powers to address money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit activities associated with virtual assets, bringing Pakistan’s regulatory approach in line with international standards.” 

Most importantly, the PVARA under the Virtual Assets Act 2026 will promote transparency and protect crypto investors in Pakistan from predatory practices. Furthermore, Pakistan is keen to tap into the blockchain technology to upgrade its siloed financial infrastructure, which has, over the years, locked out millions of people.

According to Momin Saqib, a Pakistan crypto influencer who has been part of the advisory team to the Pakistan Crypto Council, the PVARA will catalyze the mainstream adoption of digital assets in the country. Moreover, he noted that Pakistan has recorded intense demand for virtual assets but lacked a clear regulatory framework to onboard mainstream investors.

“The demand was never the question. The framework was. The real crypto adoption story was always going to come from markets like this.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Looking forward to it all,” Momin Saqib highlighted.

What’s the Expected Impact?

The enactment of the Virtual Assets Act 2026 will play a crucial role in democratizing the crypto industry in Pakistan. The country ranked third in crypto adoption, behind India and the United States, in 2025, according to Chainalysis’s global crypto adoption index.

Related: Binance CZ Says Pakistan Could Become a Global Crypto Leader by 2030