Pakistan SBP Unlocks Banking Access for Crypto Firms Amid US-Iran Conflict

State Bank of Pakistan has now opened banking access to licensed crypto firms, according to notice this week. The Pakistan SBP’s move comes amid the country acting as a mediator in the US-Iran conflict.

Pakistan SBP Updates Crypto Regulation

SBP issued a notice recently, which allows licensed companies to engage with the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA). The reform replaced the earlier restriction on cryptocurrencies and tokens that came into effect in 2018.

The Pakistan SBP’s new declaration aligns with the context of Virtual Assets Act 2026, which aims to legalize and regulate crypto assets in the country. The PVARA regulatory regime suggests that the body will act as a statutory authority. Moreover, it will be responsible for regulating, licensing, and supervising the country’s digital asset industry.

However, crypto firms can only obtain banking access after proper paperwork and submission of necessary documents. The circular mentions that banks are required to verify every company’s PVARA license authenticity before onboarding them. In addition, banking entities should these documents in their database.

For licensed VASPs, banks are allowed to create new transactional accounts titled as ‘Client Money Accounts’ (CMAs) to aid operational flows for clients. Moreover, it’s important that banks operate these accounts separately from all other accounts related to the VASP.

Under the new Pakistan SBP framework, CMAs should only feature Pakistani rupees and function on a non-remuneration basis. Also, these accounts face limitations as they can only process authorized transactions. Furthermore, CMA accounts shouldn’t facilitate cash deposits or withdrawals not function as collateral in any case.

Banks Face Strict Guidelines

The notice directs banking institutions to maintain customer due diligence before and during collaboration with VASPs to minimize potential risks. In addition, they should report any suspicious transactions to abide by anti-money laundering regulation under the AML Act 2010.

In addition, crypto companies that have obtained No Objection Certificates from PVARA are eligible for limited banking access. They can use bank facilities only to complete the licensing process and upon successful completion, they can avail transactional functions.

The Pakistan SBP’s latest crypto regulation declaration has attracted attention amid the US-Iran conflict. Currently, Pakistan is aiding negotiation talks toward a potential resolution between Washington and Tehran.

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