Pakistan recently hosted top executives from World Liberty Financial (WLF), a crypto company 60% owned by the Trump family. The WLF team—Zachary Folkman, Chase Herro, and Zachary Witkoff—signed a letter of intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council to help build the country’s blockchain and digital finance scene.
On Sunday, Pakistan rolled out the red carpet for World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance platform in which former President Donald Trump’s family holds a 60% stake
Pakistan’s Calculated Crypto Push
Led by Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib and backed by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, Pakistan is aiming to outflank established crypto hubs like the UAE. Unlike India’s strict 30% tax on crypto trades—which sharply cooled its exchange volumes—Pakistan plans a more welcoming approach, hoping to lure both retail investors and institutional players.
Still, there are worries next door in India. An adviser to New Delhi’s finance ministry warned that Pakistani exchanges could become a tax-evading route for Indian investors, potentially exposing their financial data to a rival state.
Promote stablecoins, digital coins tied to real currencies.
Expand DeFi (decentralized finance) tools that let people borrow, lend, and trade without banks.
The deal aims to position Pakistan as a global player in digital finance. According to 2024 data, Pakistan ranks ninth worldwide in crypto use, with about 25 million users and $300 billion in annual transactions.
What’s in It for World Liberty Financial?
Access to a Fast-Growing Market: Pakistan’s rising crypto use offers WLF a chance to test new products, like its upcoming stablecoin called “$1.”
Regulatory Backing: The Pakistan Crypto Council and local banks will help WLF follow rules and launch more smoothly.
Brand Exposure: Working with Pakistan raises WLF’s profile in South Asia—one of the world’s hottest regions for digital finance.
Blurring Lines Between Business and Politics
Some critics worry about a Trump-linked firm working so closely with a government. A New York Times investigation pointed out that WLF once quietly bought tokens from small crypto startups—sometimes paying up to 20% more—and kept most of the upside for itself
Building Bridges with Blockchain
Expanding Blockchain Technology
Promoting Stablecoins
Integrating DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
A joint press release described the pact as “a major step toward positioning Pakistan as a global leader in the digital finance revolution.” With an estimated 25 million crypto users and $300 billion in annual transaction volume, Pakistan already ranks ninth worldwide for crypto adoption, according to Chainanalysis data from 2024.
Still, some in New Delhi are worried. An Indian adviser warned that traders might use Pakistani exchanges—via VPNs—to dodge taxes, risking their data ending up outside India.
Looking Ahead
WLF raised $300 million last October by selling 20 billion WLFI tokens. It has already lined up a $25 million boost from DWF Labs in Dubai to keep its markets liquid and support a U.S. launch. With these plans and its Pakistan partnership, WLF and the Trump family are betting big on blockchain’s future—and on Pakistan as a key market.
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