At a grand government venue in Islamabad earlier this year, Pakistan’s top leadership gathered to استقبال a visitor whose presence signalled more than just a business meeting. Zachary Witkoff, CEO of World Liberty Financial—a crypto platform co-founded by US President Donald Trump—was welcomed in a manner resembling a state visit.
Photographs from the event showed Witkoff alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. Standing nearby was Bilal Bin Saqib, a 35-year-old entrepreneur who has rapidly emerged as a key figure linking Pakistan’s leadership with influential players in the global crypto and political ecosystem.
Once relatively unknown, Saqib has seen a swift rise. He has built connections with major figures in the crypto and investment world, including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), investor Cathie Wood, Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor, and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele—who famously made Bitcoin legal tender.
Saqib’s growing influence reflects a broader shift in Pakistan’s economic outreach strategy. In recent months, he has played a role in facilitating engagement between Pakistani officials and World Liberty Financial. During a visit to Islamabad, the company signed a preliminary agreement with the government to explore cooperation on stablecoin adoption.
His proximity to Trump-linked networks has also drawn attention. Saqib recently shared images from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he met Witkoff and other executives—an interaction that coincided with Pakistan finalising a deal with the US to redevelop the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
“Because of crypto, doors have opened,” Saqib said in an interview, pointing to new diplomatic and economic conversations emerging from these ties. “There’s an opportunity to rebrand.”
Originally from Lahore, Saqib traces his interest in digital assets back to Bitcoin’s 2017 surge. His engagement with Pakistan’s government reportedly began in March 2025, after which his influence grew quickly. Within weeks, he helped bring Changpeng Zhao on board as a strategic adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council.
Pakistan’s appeal to global crypto players is significant. With an estimated 40 million users and trading volumes exceeding $300 billion, the country is among the world’s most active crypto markets—driven in part by persistent inflation and limited traditional investment options.
However, the evolving relationship also carries geopolitical complexities. Trump has demonstrated an unpredictable foreign policy approach, and analysts note that Pakistan could face pressure to align with US interests in regional conflicts, particularly involving Iran—posing potential challenges for its leadership.
For Saqib, the focus remains on leveraging crypto to drive economic transformation. He has emphasised the need to build technological capacity among Pakistan’s youth,
with the aim of reducing reliance on external financial bailouts and fostering long-term growth.
