Business Desk 
Apr 22, 2025
An undated image. — Pixabay
In a remarkable development, Pakistan and Malaysia held talks to jointly develop a Shariah-compliant crypto framework and explore the realm of digital assets.
The collaboration on blockchain and digital finance was discussed between Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan and Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) CEO Bilal Bin Saqib.
A Pakistan-Malaysia Digital Finance Partnership was proposed during the meetup, setting the foundations of financial systems that align with both Islamic principles and global standards.
The higher-ups from both countries discussed regulatory cooperation and the creation of digital finance models. Other notable topics reflected during the meeting included regulatory alignment, talent development in Web3, and joint education programmes in blockchain and fintech.
“Malaysia’s leadership in Islamic finance and Pakistan’s momentum in crypto regulation form a natural alliance. Together, we have a historic opportunity to set global standards for ethical innovation in digital finance — from halal stablecoins and tokenised sukuks to compliant regulatory sandboxes and youth empowerment,” said Saqib.
Complementing PCC's active formation of a crypto framework in line with emerging markets, the initiative comes on the heels of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s appointment as a strategic advisor to the PCC.
While no formal deal has been signed, both countries expressed interest in involving other members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in future discussions.
