Pakistan's FIA Launches Crypto Investigation Unit to Fight Money Laundering | Editor's Pick Regulation

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a dedicated cryptocurrency investigation unit to target money laundering and terrorism financing involving digital assets. The unit is housed inside the FIA’s newly operational National Command and Control Centre (NC3). Dr Muhammad Athar Waheed, director of the FIA Counter-Terrorism Wing, told Dawn that the unit focuses on investigating crypto use in crimes rather than regulating the market, noting that Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) retains oversight authority. Waheed urged the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to build similar units. The initiative aligns with a broader global push to curb crypto-enabled crime, following recent US cases involving alleged laundering and investment scams. Pakistan’s regulatory efforts have accelerated recently: in March 2026, Parliament passed the Virtual Assets Act, creating PVARA, while the State Bank of Pakistan eased banking access for crypto firms. Pakistan ranks among the largest crypto markets, placing third in the Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index.