Pakistan Appoints Binance Founder CZ as Strategic Advisor for Crypto Revolution

Pakistan has tapped Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder and former CEO of Binance, as a strategic advisor to its newly formed Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), signaling a bold step toward embracing cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. The announcement, reported by Bloomberg on April 7, 2025, highlights Pakistan’s intent to bolster its digital economy with global expertise.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb called the move a “landmark moment” during a press briefing in Islamabad, stating, “Pakistan is open for innovation”. CZ, who met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials, will advise on regulatory frameworks, crypto infrastructure, and adoption strategies. “I’m honored to help Pakistan adopt cryptocurrency and blockchain solutions,” CZ said in an X post.

With over 20 million crypto users, Pakistan ranks among the top 10 globally for adoption, per Chainalysis. The PCC, launched in March 2025, aims to regulate and integrate digital assets into the economy. PCC CEO Bilal Bin Saqib praised CZ as “a pioneer who redefined financial freedom”.

CZ’s advisory role in Pakistan is part of a broader pattern of engagement with governments across South Asia and Central Asia. Just last week, he signed a memorandum of understanding with Kyrgyzstan’s National Investment Agency to bolster blockchain development in the region. His work with Pakistan builds on this momentum, positioning him as a key figure in shaping the global Web3 landscape post-Binance.

Pakistan’s crypto ambitions are not without challenges. The State Bank of Pakistan has historically cautioned against the risks of unregulated digital assets, and the country narrowly avoided financial default in 2023. However, the government now views cryptocurrency as a forward-thinking avenue to bolster its economy. Jawad Ashraf, CEO of Vanar Chain and a partner of the Pakistan Blockchain Institute, told FXStreet, “The launch of the Pakistan Crypto Council—and CZ’s involvement—will be a game-changer for the country’s digital transformation.”

From a market perspective, Binance’s native token, BNB, traded at approximately $560 as of April 8, 2025, reflecting a 4.6% increase over the past 24 hours, according to Coingecko. While CZ’s new role is independent of Binance, his influence continues to resonate within the crypto community, potentially boosting confidence in Pakistan’s emerging market.