Pakistan has enacted the Virtual Assets Act 2026, establishing a permanent legal foundation for the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. The move formalises oversight of the country’s growing digital asset sector, which had previously operated under temporary rules introduced in 2025.

Under the new framework, PVARA is responsible for licensing, regulating and supervising virtual assets and virtual asset service providers operating in Pakistan. The law gives the authority powers to issue, suspend and revoke licences, while unlicensed operations can…