Pakistan considers using surplus energy for Bitcoin mining after appointing CZ to Crypto Council

Pakistan will allocate excess electricity from its national grid to Bitcoin (BTC) mining operations and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, according to the country’s Crypto Council and finance ministry adviser Bilal Bin Saqib. 

As Reuters reported, the initiative follows consultations with multiple mining firms and forms part of a broader strategy to address structural inefficiencies in the energy sector while advancing its position in emerging technologies.

The effort coincides with Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, being appointed as a strategic adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council.

The report reviewed documents that confirm Zhao’s advisory role will encompass support for blockchain infrastructure, guidance on regulatory frameworks, and assistance with national crypto initiatives. 

Power surplus and mining site planning

Pakistan’s energy sector has experienced volatility due to high electricity tariffs and persistent overcapacity. The expansion of solar installations by consumers aiming to reduce energy costs has complicated national grid demand forecasts and reduced industrial off-take. 

As a result, the government is seeking avenues to convert surplus generation into economically productive activities.

Saqib said that the regional availability of excess electricity will determine the location of mining centers. He noted that several provinces already show patterns of consistent oversupply, which can support localized mining operations without burdening the wider energy network.

He also emphasized the country’s ambition to diversify the use of surplus energy, citing AI data centers as a parallel deployment. These facilities are projected to require continuous, high-density compute workloads that can operate in sync with the intermittent nature of available grid surplus. 

Talks are ongoing with mining companies to determine infrastructure, energy off-take agreements, and compliance protocols.

Regulatory and educational expansion

Zhao’s inclusion on the advisory board is part of a broader institutional push. His involvement will extend to regulatory development, helping establish sandbox environments that allow fintech startups and crypto-related ventures to operate under limited supervision while policies are refined.

According to Saqib, Pakistan has between 15 to 20 million crypto users despite the absence of formal regulation. The country also ranks as the third-largest freelance economy worldwide.

These user demographics, combined with expanding internet penetration and a maturing fintech sector, are central to the government’s focus on blockchain and crypto as areas for structured growth.

Saqib advocated for upskilling programs in blockchain and AI targeted at the youth population. These initiatives aim to position the country as a digital services exporter while generating employment opportunities in tech-aligned fields. 

The educational outreach is expected to focus on blockchain engineering, DeFi infrastructure, and AI modeling, supporting domestic industry needs and cross-border service exports. The use of Bitcoin mining as a sink for electricity overproduction reflects a pivot in national policy toward monetizing underutilized infrastructure. 

Final site selections and partner announcements are pending completion of regional energy availability assessments and compliance with new technical standards.

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