Pakistan has announced a major new energy allocation to support cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence development, assigning 2,000 megawatts of electricity to these sectors as part of a national economic revival plan. The programme, backed by the Pakistan Cryptocurrency Council, aims to both legalise digital currencies and stimulate investment, according to Bloomberg reports cited by UNN.
The initiative seeks to build state-supported infrastructure for Bitcoin mining and AI data centres, using currently underutilised energy from coal-based projects such as Sahiwal, China Hub and Port Qasim. These sites currently operate at just 15 percent capacity. The energy repurposing strategy is intended to monetise surplus power, create jobs, and draw in global tech investors at a time when Pakistan’s economy is still recovering from a near-default in 2023.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance confirmed that approximately 15 to 20 million people in the country are already using cryptocurrency. As the country moves to regulate and formalise the sector, it has also secured support from Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao to assist in building a digital finance platform.
Additionally, a preliminary agreement has been signed with a blockchain project reportedly linked to Donald Trump. While details remain limited, the deal aims to boost innovation and technical infrastructure in Pakistan’s blockchain sector.
The government has yet to name the international mining or data infrastructure firms interested in this programme. However, officials state that interest is growing rapidly from overseas players eager to capitalise on low operating costs and newly legalised cryptocurrency markets.
This strategy marks a significant turn for Pakistan as it attempts to modernise its economy through digital finance and artificial intelligence. The demand for high energy loads in AI development continues to rise globally, placing stress on power grids and environmental goals. Pakistan’s use of coal plants — rather than transitioning to clean energy — highlights the country’s immediate need for economic returns over long term sustainability.
This comes at a time when Europe has struggled to reframe its energy agenda despite growing energy instability caused by conflict and reliance on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, North Korean cyber operations remain a global threat, with state-backed hackers still targeting cryptocurrency and intellectual property.
