Govt to allow Binance to explore ‘tokenisation’ of up to $2bn of assets

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Finance on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Binance Investments Co., Ltd, one of the world’s leading blockchain and digital asset technology companies, marking a step toward leveraging emerging financial technologies to strengthen capital markets and enhance global investor access.

The MoU was signed at the Finance Division by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Richard Teng, CEO of Binance, in the presence of Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council.

The MoU establishes a framework for exploring potential collaboration on the tokenisation and blockchain-based distribution of Pakistan’s real-world and sovereign assets, including government bonds, treasury bills, commodity reserves, and other federally owned assets. Subject to applicable laws, policies, and regulatory approvals, the initiative may involve assets of up to USD 2 billion to enhance liquidity, transparency, and international market accessibility.

Under the proposed arrangement, Binance and/ or its affiliates may provide technical expertise, advisory support, training and capacity building to enable Pakistan to assess modern, compliant blockchain infrastructure. The collaboration aims to explore secure and transparent digital platforms that could facilitate broader participation by international investors, while fully respecting Pakistan’s regulatory framework and sovereign control.

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Aurangzeb described the MoU as a strong signal of Pakistan’s reform trajectory. “This is a very strong message - not only for Pakistan, but for the entire world. What we have signed today reflects a long-term partnership. From where we started to move towards operationalisation, this progress could not have happened without active guidance and leadership. The next step for us is execution, and we are fully committed to delivering results with speed and quality,” he said, while also acknowledging the vision and support of the country’s top leadership.

Changpeng Zhao (CZ) termed the MoU a landmark development for Pakistan’s future. “This is a great signal for the global blockchain industry and for Pakistan. It has a very big impact on the country’s future and its technology-driven generation. This is the beginning … now we can move towards full deployment and execution. We are honoured to work with Pakistan’s leadership and are confident this collaboration will deliver positive and lasting outcomes for the economy,” he remarked.

The MoU is non-binding and reflects an expression of intent by both parties to explore feasibility. Definitive agreements, if any, will be negotiated within six months, subject to all legal, regulatory, and policy approvals. Any future arrangement will be governed by the laws of Pakistan and will not constitute exclusivity or a procurement commitment.

This collaboration underscores Pakistan’s commitment to responsible financial innovation, strong governance, and compliance, and marks an important milestone in aligning the country’s financial ecosystem with evolving global best practices.

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