Pakistan directs surplus electricity to Bitcoin mining
Pakistan turns surplus energy into Bitcoin mining and AI opportunity.
Pakistan is taking a bold step to transform its energy surplus into economic opportunity, launching a national strategy to use excess electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers.
The plan marks a dramatic shift in the country’s posture toward digital assets and aims to position Pakistan as a regional hub for blockchain innovation, reports BeInCrypto.
Government officials, working closely with the newly established Pakistan Crypto Council, are in talks with mining firms to develop infrastructure in areas with surplus power. “There’s at least 10,000 megawatts of surplus energy under government control that can be used to mine Bitcoin,” said Bilal Bin Saqib, head of the council. The initiative is expected to reduce costly capacity payments and make use of idle electricity resources without relying on government subsidies.
The strategy is rooted in economic necessity. Pakistan has long struggled with overcapacity in power generation, a problem intensified by reduced demand and rising energy costs. According to DAWN, the government is preparing a new tariff structure to support these mining operations, further cementing the pivot toward blockchain and AI investment.
From Crypto Ban to Blockchain Hub
This approach represents a striking reversal from Pakistan’s former anti-crypto stance. Just two years ago, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Ministry of IT and Telecom imposed a blanket ban on cryptocurrencies. In 2023, a senior finance official declared digital assets would “never” be legalized.
That view has shifted sharply. In March 2025, Pakistan formed the Pakistan Crypto Council to regulate and develop blockchain frameworks. The move was followed by the appointment of Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao as the council’s strategic advisor, signaling growing international confidence in the country’s crypto ambitions.
“Together with Changpeng Zhao, they’re building the future of finance,” one analyst wrote on X, praising Pakistan’s emerging role in Web3 development.
With regulatory reforms underway and a strategy to monetize excess energy, Pakistan appears poised to leverage digital finance to stimulate economic growth and technological innovation. Whether this shift translates into long-term gains will depend on execution and global market dynamics—but the pivot is already reshaping the nation’s digital future.
Recently we wrote, that former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has been appointed as a strategic advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council.
