Key Takeaways
- Pakistan has allocated 2,000 MW of surplus electricity to Bitcoin mining and AI development.
- The energy allotment exceeds Zimbabwe’s total national power output.
- The move is part of a sweeping digital transformation strategy.
Pakistan has taken one of its most significant steps toward embracing crypto by allocating 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers — more power than the entire national grid of Zimbabwe generates.
Pakistan Turns Pro-Crypto To Attract Global Investment
The decision, announced by the Finance Ministry, marks the first phase in a broader national strategy to modernize digital infrastructure and attract global tech investment.
The initiative includes plans to integrate renewable energy and establish a regulatory framework aimed at turning Pakistan into a regional crypto and AI hub.
Just a few years ago, Pakistan was one of the few countries that enforced an outright ban on crypto. Now, following a shift in political leadership, the government is moving aggressively in the opposite direction.
The country’s crypto U-turn is led by the newly formed Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), with support from former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who has reportedly been brought on to advise the government’s digital strategy.
The plan includes legal reforms, foreign investment incentives, and a roadmap to monetize the country’s electricity surplus through crypto mining.
International firms have already begun responding.
Several foreign delegations have visited to assess opportunities in the country’s emerging crypto and AI sectors. The government has also introduced tax breaks to sweeten the deal.
Scaling Ambitions
Officials describe this energy allocation as just the beginning.
With nearly 15 to 20 million crypto users, Pakistan is positioning itself to capitalize on its untapped digital market.
The government sees Bitcoin mining as a gateway to broader ambitions: creating high-tech jobs, expanding the national digital economy, and securing foreign capital inflows.
Prashant Jha is a seasoned crypto journalist based in Delhi, India, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Engineering. Passionate about the evolving world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, he has been a dedicated voice in the industry since 2018. Prashant’s expertise lies in regulatory reporting, where he unravels complex legal and financial developments with clarity and precision. Before joining CCN in 2024, he honed his craft at Cointelegraph, establishing himself as a trusted name in crypto journalism.
His coverage spans major industry events, including the high-profile collapses of FTX, Three Arrows Capital (3AC), and LUNA, offering readers insightful analyses of their regulatory and market implications. Prashant’s technical background enables him to bridge the gap between intricate blockchain technology and its real-world applications, making his work accessible to novices and experts.
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