ISLAMABAD: US billionaire and cryptocurrency trader Michael Saylor has praised Pakistan’s initiatives to develop a digital economy and build infrastructure for blockchain adoption.

Mr Saylor, whose company, Strategy, is the biggest corporate holder of Bitcoin, attended a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, according to a Finance Ministry’s press release issued on Sunday.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain Bilal Bin Saqib.

The discussion focused on how Bitcoin can serve as a tool for sovereign reserves, monetary resilience, and drive Pakistan’s digital economic transformation.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Aurangzeb said Pakistan aspires to lead the global South in the development and adoption of digital assets and setting a benchmark for digital innovation.

Mr Saqib briefed the meeting on steps taken to strengthen the digital economy and hailed the involvement of Mr Saylor as a consultant on these initiatives.

“Michael Saylor’s insights and leadership have shaped how the world views Bitcoin as a sovereign-grade asset.”

Mr Saylor praised Pakistan’s efforts to take a “forward-looking, innovation-friendly stance” in the global digital economy and welcomed the opportunity to advise on the ongoing developments.

“Bitcoin is the strongest asset for long-term national resilience,” he said, adding that emerging markets like Pakistan have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to “leapfrog into the future of finance”.

This strategic dialogue, led by the finance minister, was part of Pakistan’s effort to build a robust digital assets policy framework, attract global institutional interest, and position itself as a Web3 and Bitcoin-ready emerging market, said the press release.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2025