Pakistan to Launch Bitcoin Reserve Using 2,000 MW of Excess Power

Pakistan is preparing to launch a Bitcoin reserve, mining the cryptocurrency using idle electricity from power plants. The initiative is designed to attract foreign investment into the country’s tech ecosystem.

At the center of the plan is the Pakistan Crypto Council, helmed by UK-based entrepreneur Bilal bin Saqib. The group proposes repurposing 2,000 megawatts of dormant power capacity to lure in crypto miners and artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Faced with a weakening currency and an urgent need for economic diversification, Pakistan is turning to crypto. The government’s proposal to build a national Bitcoin reserve has already attracted U.S. interest: World Liberty Financial (WLF) signed a memorandum of understanding with PCC back in April, laying the groundwork for stablecoin deployments and joint blockchain ventures.

The project’s public debut came on May 29, at The Bitcoin Conference, where Bilal Bin Saqib—now a cabinet minister under Shehbaz Sharif—presented the vision alongside Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and WLF head Zach Witkoff. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance has begun drafting legislation to form an independent regulator tasked with developing and supervising the country’s crypto framework.

Betting Big on Bitcoin Comes at a Cost

Not everyone’s convinced by Pakistan’s crypto-mining vision. Analysts warn it could add pressure to an already fragile energy sector and raise eyebrows among international financial watchdogs. David Krause, a professor of finance, sees a major flaw: Bitcoin doesn’t offer recurring returns. If the asset crashes, reserves could morph into liabilities—leaving the nation holding digital debt.

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Proponents of the initiative point to a massive economic opportunity hidden in plain sight: Pakistan pays nearly $2.5 billion annually for surplus energy under inflexible “take-or-pay” contracts. With 10,000–15,000 megawatts of idle capacity, turning it into a crypto mining engine could be a game-changer. According to Luqman Khan, a partner at Bitcoin Association Pakistan, a 90% operational load could deliver up to $1 billion in yearly returns.

The Road Ahead

Benjamin Grolimund, CEO of Flipster crypto exchange, sees the move as a bold attempt to fuse energy policy with blockchain innovation. Still, the economics matter: at 7 cents per kilowatt-hour, Pakistan’s electricity isn’t yet cost-efficient for mining at scale. By comparison, Texas miners pay closer to 3 cents—a gap that must be closed for the plan to succeed.

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According to KTrade Chairman Ali Farid Khawaja, the government may lean on a public-private partnership structure to share early costs and risk exposure with mining firms. Despite skepticism from analysts, Pakistani authorities are betting on the long-term upside: a wave of foreign investment and meaningful progress toward digital modernization.