In a move that’s turning heads in the global crypto world, World Liberty Financial, a crypto and DeFi firm heavily backed by the Trump family, has officially partnered with the Pakistan Crypto Council to promote blockchain adoption and decentralized finance across the country.
The agreement, signed during a high-level visit to Islamabad this past Sunday, signals a growing ambition by both sides: Pakistan wants to position itself as a regional leader in crypto, and the Trump-backed firm sees new growth opportunities in emerging markets.
Who Was Involved?
A delegation from World Liberty Financial — including Zachary Folkman, Chase Herro, and Zachary Witkoff — met with top Pakistani leaders including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief General Asim Munir, and other senior officials.
The deal was signed in front of key financial authorities, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb (via video), the SECP Chairman, and the Governor of the State Bank. The aim? To boost blockchain infrastructure, explore stablecoin use cases, and integrate DeFi solutions into Pakistan’s growing digital economy.
What’s In It for Pakistan?
Pakistan, home to over 25 million crypto users according to Chainalysis 2024 data, ranks among the world’s top 10 crypto markets by adoption. With support from World Liberty and figures like Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, the Pakistan Crypto Council hopes to turn the country into South Asia’s blockchain hub, potentially rivaling the UAE.
CEO Bilal Bin Saqib of the Council said Pakistan wants to avoid India’s restrictive path. India’s 30% crypto tax killed trading volume. We’re learning from their mistake,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg.
That said, Indian officials are watching closely. Some warn that Pakistani crypto platforms could attract Indian users through VPNs, raising national security concerns around data privacy.
What’s In It for the Trump Family?
The partnership also shines a spotlight on how Donald Trump’s private businesses continue to blur the line between politics and finance.
World Liberty Financial is 60% owned by DT Marks DEFI LLC, a Trump family entity. Reports say it struck secretive token deals with crypto startups, buying up to $30 million in tokens while collecting premiums of up to 20%. These deals were not made public — a fact that has raised ethical questions.
Trump, now serving as Chief Crypto Advocate, has roped in his family too: Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are listed as Web3 Ambassadors, while Barron Trump carries the title DeFi Visionary” on the platform’s leadership page.
Critics argue that this new venture erodes long-held boundaries between the presidency and private gain. As The New York Times put it, “No other business project by the Trump family has challenged presidential norms like World Liberty has.
