Pakistan, July 10 -- Pakistan has formally enacted its first law to regulate virtual assets, establishing a federal authority to license and oversee crypto-related businesses, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, as the country joins a growing list of nations adopting formal oversight of blockchain-based finance.

The Virtual Assets Act, 2025 creates the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA), a new autonomous regulator to supervise the virtual asset economy, ensure compliance with global anti-money laundering standards and support financial innovation through regulatory sandboxes.

Pakistan's move aligns with similar frameworks adopted by global peers such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, India, and the European Un...