Even as the crypto market continued facing tariff induced global crash onslaught, a peculiar news update on Monday evening alerted crypto lovers. Changpeng Zhao a.k.a CZ- the maverick founder of Binance, has flown to Islamabad in Pakistan, all the way from Hong Kong, to meet the Prime Minister, after which he was officially designated as strategic advisor to Pakistan Crypto Council.
The news surprised many, given the choice of country for CZ to fly into, however, those who know him, understand very well that the founder and ex-CEO of Binance cryptocurrency exchange, has always believed in “building” no matter the circumstances, no matter the location.
True to his commitment to “build”, CZ took to official account on X, to narrate the quickly maneuvered trip to Islamabad from Hong Kong, that was sandwiched between back-to-back meetings.
CZ’s appointment as strategic advisor to Pakistan’s National Crypto Council is a step ahead in the South Asian country’s recent endeavors to adopt cryptocurrencies for foreign investment.
Like its neighbor India, Pakistan has neither banned cryptocurrencies nor given them official recognition yet.
This is a landmark moment for Pakistan,” said Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. “We are sending a clear message to the world: Pakistan is open for innovation. With Zhao onboard, we are accelerating our vision to make Pakistan a regional powerhouse for Web3, digital finance, and blockchain-driven growth,” as reported by The Dawn newspaper.
CZ shocked everyone this unpredicted move. Looking at the timeline, he traveled from Hong Kong to Pakistan via a red-eye flight, departing late April 6 or early April 7, 2025, HKT, arriving in Islamabad on April 7 IST. He met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and regulators on April 7 to discuss Pakistan’s crypto and blockchain future, culminating in his appointment as Strategic Advisor to the PCC.
Conclusion
After conducting all the meetings and discussions CZ departed from Pakistan by another Red-eye flight. It’s amazing how CZ reached Pakistan overnight and finalized the amazing deal. Moreover, it is also a good move by Pakistan as it will attract more foreign investments to the nation. Bilal Bin Saqib, chief advisor to the country’s finance minister already cleared their intention and said Pakistan is done sitting on the sidelines.
Also Read: Pakistan Crypto Council Appoints Binance Founder CZ as Advisor
