Pakistan plans to fuel bitcoin mining with surplus electricity: Reuters

Pakistan is considering using surplus electricity to power its bitcoin mining and AI data centers, Reuters reported Wednesday.The suggestion came from Bilal Bin Saqib, advisor to Pakistan's finance minister and CEO of the Crypto Council. Saqib reportedly said there have already been talks with several mining firms.The plan is expected to help the country overcome the challenge of having leftover energy amid high electricity tariffs and the expansion of alternative energy sources.The council will finalize the location of the mining centers based on excess power availability, Saqib told Reuters.Blockchain pushPakistan formed its crypto council last month, in a bid to push blockchain and crypto-powered initiatives.Saqib explained in a previous interview with Bloomberg that the country's crypto push follows the election of pro-crypto President Donald Trump, who promised to make the U.S. the world's leader in digital assets.“Our plan as the Pakistan Crypto Council is very clear — Pakistan is done sitting on the sidelines," Saqib said in the interview. "We want Pakistan as the leader of blockchain-powered finance, and we want to attract international investment.”The council leader also said that Pakistan is one of the top 10 global adopters of crypto, even without clear crypto regulations. Saqib's goals for the local crypto economy includes setting up regulatory sandboxes to boost innovation in the field.Earlier this week, local media reported that Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) joined the Pakistan Crypto Council as a strategic advisor. Zhao said in an X post earlier this month that he is "officially and unofficially" advising a few governments on crypto regulatory frameworks and blockchain solutions for government efficiency. Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.