Who Is Bilal Bin Saqib, The ‘Crypto Bro’ Shaping Trump’s Pakistan View?

Last Updated:March 30, 2026, 12:16 IST

Pakistan's adept use of crypto diplomacy, or "biplomacy" as Saqib called it, has strengthened the friendship between US President Donald Trump and Asim Munir.

Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gathered in Islamabad in January to welcome Zachary Witkoff, son of US envoy Steve Witkoff and CEO of World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture associated with the Trump family. Standing alongside Munir was a key figure who has played a pivotal role in reshaping US–Pakistan relations over the past year.

Pakistan and World Liberty Financial signed an MoU in Islamabad to collaborate on crypto, digital payments, and cross-border financial systems, with Witkoff praising the country’s policy direction and focus on secure digital payment infrastructure. Bilal Bin Saqib, a 35-year-old self-described “crypto bro", hailed the visit as helping to “put Pakistan on the map", according to a report by Bloomberg.

Pakistan’s adept use of crypto diplomacy – or “biplomacy" as Saqib called it, referring to Bitcoin – has strengthened a burgeoning friendship between US President Donald Trump and Munir. The red carpet welcome in Islamabad for the Trump family’s business showed the growing depth of US-Pakistan relations.

Who Is Bilal Bin Saqib?

Saqib describes himself as a “crypto bro" who says he worked three jobs to get through college, including cleaning toilets. Last year, he suddenly became one of Pakistan’s most influential figures.

READ MORE: ‘Tehran Accepted 15-Point Plan’: Trump Claims Progress In Talks With Iran Via Pakistan

He forged partnerships with crypto leaders such as Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ, the billionaire founder of Binance Holdings Ltd, the world’s largest cryptocurrency-exchange. He also built ties with fund manager Cathie Wood, Bitcoin billionaire Michael Saylor and Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s president, who made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021 and established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund.

His most significant contribution came when he was appointed as an adviser at World Liberty Financial, although he later stepped away from that role when he entered government service. Last month, Saqib posted a selfie with Zachary Witkoff and other company executives at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

This came around the same time that Pakistan reached an agreement with the US to revamp the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, a deal negotiated by Steve Witkoff. “Because of crypto, doors have opened. New conversations have opened, trust has been built. We have gotten an opportunity to rebrand," Saqib said in a recent interview.

US-Pakistan Relations

Pakistan’s adoption of cryptocurrency has largely shaped its ties with the US, as the two countries are working on several topics of mutual interest, including energy, critical minerals and counterterrorism. This also coincides with Pakistan’s emergence as a key intermediary between the US and Iran in the ongoing war that is disrupting the global economy.

Pakistan has spent much of the past decade on the brink of bankruptcy and diplomatic isolation as the US strengthened ties with India to counter China’s rising military and economic strength, as per Bloomberg. This changed abruptly last year, as Pakistan credited Trump for stopping India’s Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

On the other hand, India rejected Trump’s mediation claim, and the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods over its Russian oil purchase, which soured ties between the two largest democracies. While the White House has since mended ties with India, Trump regularly heaps praise on Munir. Pakistan has reciprocated by nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize and other forms of flattery.

News world Who Is Bilal Bin Saqib, The ‘Crypto Bro’ Shaping Trump’s Pakistan View?

Read More