- Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, is joining the Pakistan Crypto Council as an advisor.
- This move happens while the Pakistan Stock Market is experiencing a significant downturn.
The founder of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, is joining the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) as an advisor. This is happening at a time when the Pakistan Stock Market is crashing, causing worry about the country’s economy.
The KSE-100 Index dropped by 3,882 points, which was so severe that trading had to be temporarily stopped. People are now wondering if cryptocurrency and blockchain technology can help boost growth and investment in Pakistan.
Pakistan Looks to Crypto and Blockchain
The announcement that Zhao would be joining the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) as an advisor has generated excitement, even though he stepped down as CEO of Binance in 2023 he is ” Honored to help Pakistan adopt crypto! “ he stated.
The Pakistani government’s decision to bring Zhao on board as an advisor is a strategic move. It comes at a crucial time for the country, especially as it deals with a struggling stock market. Pakistan is working hard to attract foreign investment, which includes improving its financial systems using blockchain technology.
The Pakistan Crypto Council, created in March 2025, is a government initiative to incorporate digital assets and blockchain into Pakistan’s economy. Having Zhao on the PCC shows that Pakistan is serious about becoming a central hub for crypto activities, including DeFi and tokenization.
According to Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, “Pakistan is opening its doors to the future of finance. And who better to guide us on this journey than CZ — a pioneer who built the world’s largest crypto exchange and changed the way billions think about financial freedom.”
Zhao will provide advice to the PCC on creating regulations that support crypto. The PCC will also promote blockchain and crypto infrastructure, lead educational efforts, and encourage the use of blockchain technology.
Saqib mentioned in an interview that Zhao’s knowledge and experience in crypto will be “valuable” as the country aims to become the crypto capital of South Asia. The goal is to develop laws that encourage innovation while following international standards, especially the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines for preventing money laundering and terrorism financing.
Zhao’s new role begins at a challenging time for both the crypto and global equity markets. Following market difficulties on April 7, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a significant crash, triggering circuit breakers to halt trading. The KSE-100 Index plummeted by 3,882 points, closing at 114,909, underscoring the urgent need for market stability.
Although the markets showed signs of recovery by the end of that day, concerns remain that the downturn could persist as the market responds to the potential impacts of Donald Trump’s tariffs and increasing trade tensions with China and the European Union.
The energy, banking, and industrial sectors in Pakistan were particularly affected during this downturn. Major companies such as the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) reported substantial losses due to lower earnings and declining investor confidence. This market crash has added urgency to the PCC’s mission, highlighting how crypto could serve as a counter to traditional market volatility.