Pakistan Bets Big on Bitcoin: 2000 Megawatts of Power Diverted to Crypto Mining

In a move that’ll either be hailed as visionary or reckless, Pakistan just flipped the switch on a massive energy gamble—allocating enough electricity to power a small city exclusively to Bitcoin mining.

The 2000-megawatt play signals a desperate bid for relevance in the crypto economy—or maybe just a creative way to monetize the nation’s chronic power surplus. Either way, miners win while citizens watch the meter spin.

Because nothing says ’financial innovation’ like burning subsidized electricity to mint digital tokens—Wall Street hedge funds could never.

Pakistan government to introduce tax incentives

Sources close to the Ministry mentioned that the government may soon introduce tax exemptions to boost the development of blockchain infrastructure and AI. These incentives may include an easing of income tax and import tariffs for companies investing in data centers. 

The government also revealed its plans to develop renewable energy-powered data centers in the next phase. Officials have already confirmed that the new Africa-2 Submarine Sable Project will boost the country’s internet connectivity. 

This undersea cable links 46 landing stations with 33 countries across Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. It is expected to boost the country’s bandwidth, add backup routes, and lower latency, all of which are essential for data-intensive blockchain and AI operations. 

Earlier this week, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met with Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib to explore the country’s MOVE into digital finance.

During the meeting, Saqib highlighted the key part young Pakistanis will play in this shift. He said, “The Pakistan Crypto Council exists because our youth demand a seat at the global tech table. We are building for a generation that sees digital finance, decentralization, and AI as opportunities to lead, innovate, and uplift the nation.”

Saqib then briefed the army chief on the council’s recent activities. He noted a visit by a World Liberty Financial delegation and by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. He also spoke about ongoing talks to shape regulations and about partnerships meant to build digital skills and boost the country’s standing on the world stage.

Trump’s World Liberty Financial (WLF) has also signed a Letter of Intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council. The goal is to speed up blockchain projects, stablecoin use, and wider DeFi adoption in Pakistan.

Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot