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Real-world impact: Pakistan sends over $30 billion in remittances annually. Using crypto instead of traditional methods saves families up to 8% in fees (compared to 8-10% for banks).
For years, Pakistan was seen as one of the most hostile countries toward cryptocurrency. In 2018, the State Bank of Pakistan banned banks from dealing with crypto exchanges. Anyone caught using Bitcoin or Ethereum risked fines or account freezes. Fast forward to 2025, and Pakistan now sits at 3rd or 4th globally in crypto adoption - depending on who’s counting. How did this happen? And why does it matter?
From Ban to Breakthrough
The shift didn’t come from luck. It came from necessity. Pakistan’s economy has been under pressure for years: inflation hit 38% in 2023, the Pakistani rupee lost nearly half its value against the dollar since 2020, and remittances from overseas workers - a lifeline for millions - became harder to move through traditional channels. People needed alternatives. Crypto wasn’t a trend. It was survival. By 2024, millions of Pakistanis were already using crypto to protect their savings. Stablecoins like USDT and USDC became the go-to. Unlike volatile Bitcoin, these coins are pegged to the U.S. dollar. That meant someone in Lahore could buy $100 worth of USDT on a local exchange, send it to a relative in Dubai, and have them cash it out in real dollars - no bank delays, no middlemen fees, no government interference. Chainalysis, the leading crypto analytics firm, tracked this shift. Their 2025 Global Adoption Index showed Pakistan jumping six spots to 3rd place globally, behind only India and the United States. The numbers don’t lie: an estimated 20 million Pakistanis - nearly 9% of the population - now hold cryptocurrency. Total holdings are valued between $20 billion and $25 billion. That’s more than the entire crypto market of countries like Germany and Canada combined.How They Ranked So High
Not all rankings are the same. Some studies count how many people own crypto. Others measure transaction volume. Chainalysis uses a mix: retail and institutional activity, on-chain transfers, peer-to-peer trades, and decentralized finance (DeFi) usage - all adjusted for purchasing power. Pakistan scored high because people weren’t just gambling on Bitcoin. They were using crypto to do real things. - Remittances: Over $30 billion flows into Pakistan every year from workers abroad. Crypto cut the cost from 8-10% down to under 2%. - Savings: With inflation eating away at cash, people moved money into stablecoins. A family in Faisalabad might hold $500 in USDT instead of keeping it in rupees. - Small businesses: Online sellers, freelancers, and exporters started accepting crypto. A Lahore-based software developer could get paid in USDT and convert it to rupees at a local exchange within minutes. Even informal markets adopted it. Street vendors in Karachi now accept USDT via QR codes. Students pay tuition in crypto. Farmers sell crops through blockchain-based platforms that bypass middlemen.The Regulatory Turnaround
The government didn’t just sit back and watch. In July 2025, it launched the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA). This wasn’t a symbolic move. PVARA began licensing crypto exchanges, requiring KYC checks, and tracking suspicious transactions. It gave users legal protection - and businesses a clear path to operate. Around the same time, the Pakistan Crypto Council was formed, led by Bin Saqib. This group brought together exchanges, tech startups, and even former regulators. They didn’t just lobby. They built. They created standards for wallet security, tax reporting, and dispute resolution. This clarity changed everything. Before, people used crypto in the shadows. Now, they use it openly. Banks still can’t directly touch crypto - but they can now partner with licensed exchanges. That’s a massive shift from 2018’s outright ban.
Who’s Behind the Growth
It’s not just ordinary users. International players are stepping in. In August 2025, the Pakistan Crypto Council signed a partnership with World Liberty Financial, a firm linked to the Trump family. The deal promises to bring blockchain infrastructure, training programs, and investment into Pakistan. Critics call it political favor-trading. Supporters say it’s bringing real capital and tech. Meanwhile, MicroStrategy, the U.S.-based company led by Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor, has quietly been exploring options to hold Bitcoin reserves in Pakistan. Why? Because the country now has the legal framework to protect those assets. The result? Foreign crypto firms are opening offices in Islamabad and Karachi. Local startups are raising millions in venture funding. One Lahore-based DeFi platform, PayPakChain, now processes over $50 million monthly in cross-border payments.How Pakistan Compares
India still leads global crypto adoption, with over 100 million users. The U.S. is second, thanks to ETF approvals and institutional adoption. But Pakistan is catching up fast - and for different reasons. - Nigeria used to be second. Now it’s dropped to 6th. Why? Regulatory uncertainty. Nigeria’s central bank keeps changing its mind. - Vietnam and Philippines are strong, but their populations are smaller. Pakistan’s scale is unmatched. - Ukraine leads in per-capita usage, but its population is just 40 million. Pakistan has 230 million people. Pakistan’s edge isn’t just size. It’s urgency. People aren’t buying crypto because it’s trendy. They’re buying because they have no other choice.
What Comes Next
The road ahead isn’t smooth. Political connections raise red flags. Will PVARA stay independent? Will future governments reverse course? Can the system handle a surge in users without crashing? But the foundation is solid. Unlike other countries that banned crypto and then reversed, Pakistan built infrastructure first. It didn’t just legalize crypto - it made it useful. By 2030, experts predict over a billion people will own Bitcoin. Pakistan is already positioned to be one of the top three countries in that number. The key will be staying focused on utility - not speculation. If stablecoins keep helping families pay bills, if DeFi keeps helping small businesses grow, and if regulators keep enforcing fair rules - then Pakistan won’t just rank high. It will lead.Why This Matters for You
If you’re from a country with high inflation, weak banking, or slow remittances - Pakistan’s story isn’t just interesting. It’s a blueprint. You don’t need permission to use crypto. You just need to know how. And if a country with a history of banning digital money can turn it into a lifeline for millions - then any country can.Why is Pakistan ranked so high in crypto adoption?
Pakistan ranks high because millions of people use crypto for real needs - not speculation. Stablecoins help protect savings from inflation, enable fast and cheap remittances, and let small businesses get paid internationally. Chainalysis’ 2025 index shows Pakistan at 3rd place globally due to high transaction volume, widespread retail use, and growing institutional activity.
Is cryptocurrency legal in Pakistan?
Yes, cryptocurrency is legal in Pakistan as of July 2025. The government created the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to license and oversee crypto exchanges and service providers. While banks still can’t directly handle crypto, individuals and businesses can legally buy, sell, and hold digital assets through licensed platforms.
What crypto do Pakistanis use the most?
Stablecoins like USDT (Tether) and USDC (USD Coin) dominate. These coins are pegged to the U.S. dollar, so they don’t swing in value like Bitcoin. That makes them ideal for saving money, sending remittances, and paying for goods without risking sudden losses. Bitcoin is also popular, but mostly for long-term holding or large transfers.
How many people in Pakistan own crypto?
An estimated 20 million Pakistanis - about 9% of the population - hold cryptocurrency as of 2025. This is significantly higher than the global average of 6.9%. With a population of 230 million, Pakistan has one of the largest crypto user bases in the world, second only to India in absolute numbers.
Did Pakistan reverse its crypto ban?
Yes. In 2018, the State Bank of Pakistan banned banks from dealing with crypto exchanges. By 2024-2025, the government completely reversed course. It established PVARA to regulate crypto, created the Pakistan Crypto Council to coordinate industry efforts, and began licensing exchanges. This shift turned crypto from a gray-area activity into a regulated financial tool.
Is Pakistan’s crypto growth sustainable?
So far, yes. Growth is driven by real economic needs - not hype. People use crypto to survive inflation and send money home. The regulatory framework is now in place, and institutional interest is growing. But sustainability depends on keeping politics out of regulation. If PVARA stays independent and continues focusing on utility over speculation, Pakistan’s crypto adoption will keep rising.