Pakistan Denies Investing in Trump-Linked Crypto Firm World Liberty Financial

Pakistan has rejected reports that it invested in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company tied to US President Donald Trump's family, clarifying that its dealings with the firm focused on technical cooperation rather than financial commitment. According to a BBC Urdu report, the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) said the country's relationship with the company remained "primarily limited to technical cooperation and assessing possibilities related to the future of financial systems."

The ties trace back to March 2025, when the Pakistani government set up the Pakistan Crypto Council to guide the country's approach to digital assets. Under that framework, Pakistan signed a letter of intent with World Liberty Financial in April 2025, an initial document setting out basic terms and expectations before any final agreement. On January 14, 2026, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and World Liberty Financial CEO Zachary Witkoff, among other officials.

A spokesperson for World Liberty Financial, David Wachsman, told BBC Urdu that an affiliated entity had signed an agreement with the Pakistani government in 2025 to explore integrating US dollar-pegged stablecoins into the country's financial system. The company was founded by Trump's sons along with the children of Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East. Although Trump has publicly distanced himself from the business, its international partnerships have drawn scrutiny in Washington.

Following the Democrats' victory in the US midterm elections, party members signaled they may use congressional investigative powers to examine the Trump family's cryptocurrency ventures and their foreign connections. The clarification from PVARA appears aimed at drawing a clear line between technical engagement and any financial stake as international attention on the firm intensifies.

The episode highlights Pakistan's broader push to modernize its financial infrastructure and study digital assets, including stablecoins, as part of a longer-term policy agenda. For now, officials maintain that the relationship with World Liberty Financial has centered on assessing future financial systems rather than any investment by the state.