The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a Cryptocurrency Investigation Unit (CIU) on the special instructions of the FIA Director General to strengthen action against financial crimes involving digital assets.
According to FIA officials, the specialised unit will investigate cases related to money laundering, terror financing, cybercrime and financial fraud carried out through cryptocurrencies. It will also monitor suspicious transactions involving virtual assets and identify potential illegal activities linked to the digital economy.
Focus on Financial Crimes
Officials said the newly established unit will use modern investigative technology and follow international standards while handling cryptocurrency-related cases.
The FIA added that the unit will be responsible for tracking suspicious crypto transactions, collecting digital evidence and conducting investigations into cyber-enabled financial crimes. Authorities believe the specialised team will enhance the country’s capacity to tackle increasingly sophisticated financial offences involving virtual assets.
Preventing Misuse
The agency said additional measures would be introduced to prevent the misuse of cryptocurrencies for illegal activities and ensure effective legal action against those found violating the law.
According to FIA officials, the creation of the dedicated unit reflects the government’s broader efforts to strengthen the country’s financial crime investigation framework as the use of digital assets continues to grow.
Pakistan’s Expanding Crypto Sector
Pakistan has long been regarded as one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency markets in terms of retail adoption. In recent months, the government has accelerated efforts to formalise the sector by introducing a regulatory framework and exploring the use of tokenised state assets.
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Authorities are also working toward issuing licences for cryptocurrency exchanges, which are expected to be granted in the coming months as part of the country’s evolving digital finance strategy.
Regulatory Framework
As part of these reforms, the government established the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to serve as the national regulator responsible for licensing, supervising and regulating the virtual asset and cryptocurrency industry.
The authority is tasked with developing a transparent regulatory environment aimed at encouraging innovation while ensuring compliance with financial laws and international standards.
Chairman Appointed
The government has appointed Bilal Bin Saqib as the chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA).
The establishment of the FIA’s Cryptocurrency Investigation Unit is expected to complement the regulator’s work by strengthening enforcement capabilities and improving oversight of digital asset-related financial crimes as Pakistan continues to develop its cryptocurrency ecosystem.
