Pakistan steps up crypto enforcement with dedicated federal unit
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has created a dedicated unit to investigate cybercrime and financial fraud involving cryptocurrency. The unit will focus on digital-asset use in criminal activity, while the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) remains responsible for regulating the sector. FIA Counter-Terrorism Wing Director Muhammad Athar Waheed reportedly urged other agencies to form similar teams to tackle crypto-linked crime. The move follows PVARA’s creation in July 2025 and comes as Pakistan expands its crypto framework, including approvals for major exchanges such as Binance and HTX. PVARA chair Bilal Bin Saqib has said Pakistan ranks among the world’s largest crypto markets by retail activity and could become a global leader by 2030.
