Security Risks: Crypto-Related Kidnapping in Karachi
On December 25, 2024, a 30-year-old cryptocurrency trader, Mohammed Arsalan, was kidnapped in Karachi by armed men posing as police officers. The abductors, using an unmarked police vehicle, forced Arsalan to transfer over $340,000 in crypto—including USDT, PNUT, ORCA, and PEPE—from his Binance account. Seven suspects were arrested, including a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officer, highlighting concerns about law enforcement corruption and the safety of crypto holders. The incident sparked national debate on the need for stronger legal protections and regulatory oversight for digital assets.
Pakistan aims to leverage its surplus energy from underutilized coal-fired power plants—currently operating at just 15% capacity—for Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure. The government allocated 2,000 megawatts of electricity for this purpose, hoping to attract foreign investment and monetize excess power. However, the IMF has raised concerns, reportedly blocking plans to subsidize electricity for mining, warning it could destabilize the energy market amid existing shortages. This tension between economic innovation and fiscal oversight remains a key challenge.
Pakistan has seen a surge in cryptocurrency adoption, recently climbing to 4th place globally in crypto adoption rankings. This growth is fueled by a young, tech-savvy population and rising inflation, which has driven interest in alternative financial systems. Despite previous government resistance—such as statements from Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha that crypto would “never be legalized”—Pakistan is now actively shifting toward integration. In late 2025, the government established the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to regulate the digital asset sector. The country has also appointed Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on blockchain and crypto, signaling high-level commitment.
Binance to add Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin on Ethereum, XRP Ledger support is coming
Ripple’s RLUSD, the 10th largest dollar-backed stablecoin, is set to begin spot trading on Binance, its most prominent exchange listing yet and a key step in expanding the token’s reach beyond Ripple’s native ecosystem.
Gold breaks new record on Greenland tariff threats — $7,000 level on the cards
Gold prices climbed to a fresh record above $4,800 on Wednesday, extending a sharp rally as investors sought safety amid tariff threats from the White House and renewed concerns about a global trade war. The surge has reignited debate among investors over how much prices can rise after a blockbuster year for the bullion. Following a record-breaking 2025, gold has entered 2026 with momentum intact as geopolitical tensions, falling real interest rates and efforts by investors and central banks to diversify away from the dollar reinforce its role as the world’s ultimate haven, analysts said. Forecasts are increasingly bullish. Analysts surveyed by the London Bullion Market Association expect prices to rise above $5,000 this year, citing expectations of lower U.S. real rates, continued Federal Reserve easing and sustained central-bank diversification away from the dollar. Julia Du, a senior commodities strategist at ICBC Standard Bank, sees gold prices pushing as high as $7,150. “Gold remains the headline story after a record-breaking 2025,” the LBMA said in its forecast survey.
Bitcoin has a 30% chance of falling below $80,000 by late June, options data suggests
Data from decentralized trading venues points to potential for a deeper price crash in coming months.
Traders on Derive.xyz, a decentralized protocol for on-chain options, perpetuals and structured products, see a 30% chance of bitcoin falling below $80,000 by the end of June. There's similar positioning on Deribit, the largest centralized options exchange.