Bitcoin in Pakistan: rules, tax and how it's priced
In Pakistan bitcoin is quoted as the rupee price of one whole BTC (Rs or PKR per BTC), and most people buy small fractions. The figures on this page are the international BTC/USD price converted to PKR at today's exchange rate. They are shown before exchange fees, spreads and any local premium, so rates offered by local P2P sellers can differ from the price shown here.
Is bitcoin legal in Pakistan?
Yes. Pakistan has moved from discouraging crypto to regulating it. A presidential ordinance created the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) in July 2025. In March 2026 Parliament passed the Virtual Assets Act, 2026, which made PVARA a permanent federal regulator. PVARA licenses, supervises and disciplines virtual asset service providers (VASPs) such as exchanges, custodians and brokers. Running an unlicensed crypto business can bring fines of up to PKR 50 million and prison. Bitcoin is not legal tender, and the rupee remains the only legal currency.
Licensing and banking from 2026
PVARA published its licensing regulations and opened a licensing portal on 22 August 2026. There are ten licence categories, including exchanges, custody and broker-dealers. Licensed firms must keep customer assets separate from their own and may not lend them out without written consent. Firms already operating had to apply for a no-objection certificate by 5 September 2026 or stop serving Pakistanis. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) changed its position on 14 April 2026. Banks may now open accounts for PVARA-licensed VASPs, including segregated rupee client-money accounts, which replaces the SBP's 2018 restriction. Banks still may not hold or invest in crypto themselves.
How crypto is taxed in Pakistan
Pakistan has no crypto-specific tax law yet. Officials discussed a dedicated crypto capital gains tax before the 2026–27 budget, but the Finance Act passed in June 2026 did not include one. According to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), crypto is already taxable under the existing income tax law. Gains on sales are treated as capital gains, and mining is treated as business income. Frequent traders may be taxed as running a business. Because crypto counts as an asset, also consider wealth-statement disclosure. Keep records of rupee purchase costs and get professional advice before you file.
Buying bitcoin in Pakistan
Before 2026 most Pakistanis bought crypto through peer-to-peer (P2P) trades paid in rupees, because banks would not serve exchanges. That is changing. Binance and HTX received preliminary no-objection certificates from PVARA in December 2025, and more global platforms have applied for licences. Until full licences are issued and listed by PVARA, check a platform's status with the regulator before sending money. P2P sellers set their own rupee rates, which can sit above or below the converted price on this page.
Legal and tax information last reviewed October 2026. Crypto rules change quickly — check with the regulator or tax authority, or a qualified adviser, before acting. This is not tax, legal or investment advice.