Cryptocurrency is a type of digital or virtual money that uses cryptography (advanced math and computer science techniques) to secure transactions. Unlike traditional currencies, like the dollar or euro, cryptocurrencies are decentralised, meaning they are not backed by any government or reserve. They operate on a blockchain, which is a public distributed ledger of all transactions. Although there are thousands of cryptocurrencies available, the most popular in Pakistan are Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Cryptocurrencies are gaining momentum globally as the number of use cases is increasing and many countries are now making them legal. The most popular use is for investment. Consumers buy cryptocurrencies just like they buy dollars or gold, in the hope that its value will increase. If we take Bitcoin as an example, over the past five years it has experienced significant fluctuations and exceptional growth. At the start of 2020, one bitcoin cost $7,200. At the end of the year the price jumped to $28,900. In 2021 the peak was $69,000. In 2022 the low was $15,800. On April 1, 2025, the value was $85,169. This amounts to a 1,182 per cent return over five years. Despite its extreme volatility, it is the apparent, spectacular growth that has attracted investors to this asset class.

At the same time, cryptocurrency has had a mixed reception by regulators globally. In some countries, eg El Salvador, it has legal tender status, while in others,........

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