Pakistan passed the Virtual Assets Act 2026 (March 9, 2026), establishing PVARA (Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority) as the permanent federal crypto regulator. The SBP reversed its 2018 banking ban on April 14, 2026 via BPRD Circular Letter No. 10 of 2026. PVARA is issuing No Objection Certificates to VASPs; Binance and HTX received NOCs in December 2025. Full VASP licenses are being rolled out under a phased framework. A 15% capital gains tax applies to crypto profits above PKR 500,000.
| Status | Legal |
| Risk Score | 25/100 (Low Risk) |
| Region | south asia |
| Currency | PKR |
| Capital Gains (Personal) | No specific crypto tax; general CGT rates (12.5-15%) could apply if formalized |
| Capital Gains (Corporate) | 29% CIT (general) |
| VAT on Crypto | No |
| Staking Tax | Unclear - no specific guidance |
| Airdrop Tax | Unclear |
No crypto-specific tax guidance available.
| Required | Yes |
| Regulator | PVARA |
| Framework | Virtual Assets Act 2026 (passed March 9, 2026); preceded by Pakistan Virtual Assets Ordinance 2025 (promulgated July 8, 2025). SBP BPRD Circular Letter No. 10 of 2026 (April 14, 2026) reversed 2018 banking ban for PVARA-licensed entities. |
| Ease | very_complex |
| Cost (USD) | N/A - no licensing pathway |
No detailed enforcement information available
| KYC Required | Yes |
| Travel Rule | No |
| FATF Member | No |
| FATF Status | compliant - not on grey list |
| FATF Body | APG |
| Suspicious-Activity Reporting | Yes |
Status: Restricted
Status: Restricted
Status: unregulated
| Legal | Yes |
| Electricity Cost | $0.079/kWh |
| Renewable Energy | 35% |
| Infrastructure | fair |
Mining is restricted due to regulatory uncertainty and high electricity costs; no formal mining licenses issued. Electricity cost data from 2026 estimates.
| Stability | moderate |
| Sanctions | No |
| Corruption Index | 32/100 |
| Banking Access | restricted |
Risk Factors
Pakistan faces moderate political instability and regulatory uncertainty impacting crypto businesses. Banking access for crypto firms remains restricted. No major international sanctions currently.
Pakistan passed the Virtual Assets Act 2026 (March 9, 2026), establishing PVARA (Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority) as the permanent federal crypto regulator. The SBP reversed its 2018 banking ban on April 14, 2026 via BPRD Circular Letter No. 10 of 2026. PVARA is issuing No Objection Certificates to VASPs; Binance and HTX received NOCs in December 2025. Full VASP licenses are being rolled out under a phased framework. A 15% capital gains tax applies to crypto profits above PKR 500,00
Pakistan is classified by FATF as: compliant - not on grey list.
Yes, licensing is required for VASPs.
KYC is mandatory for crypto businesses.
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Explore IT Services →Last reviewed: 2026-06-01 · Data source: Soken Crypto Legal Map
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