Who regulates crypto in Pakistan?

The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) is the regulator for virtual assets and the firms that deal in them, known as virtual asset service providers. It was set up under an ordinance in July 2025, and the Virtual Assets Act followed in March 2026.

PVARA licenses exchanges, custodians and other providers, issues no-objection certificates, and runs a regulatory sandbox where firms can test products under supervision. It also consults the public on draft rules, such as the Virtual Asset Services Regulations published for comment in June 2026.

Other regulators still matter. The State Bank of Pakistan oversees banks and payments, including how banks deal with crypto firms. The SECP regulates securities, so a token that behaves like a share or a bond can fall under its rules. The Financial Monitoring Unit handles anti-money-laundering reporting.

Before using any crypto platform, check PVARA's website for whether it is licensed, and read PVARA's advisories on unlicensed activity.