Pakistan to roll out first-ever digital currency using Japanese Blockchain Technology

Pakistan is preparing to launch its first central bank digital currency (CBDC) later this year, marking a historic shift in the nation’s financial landscape.

The initiative, spearheaded by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in partnership with award-winning Japanese blockchain technology firm Soramitsu, is set to introduce a digital rupee designed to transform how over 250 million Pakistanis use and manage money.

Funded by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the project has captured global attention as a major step toward a cashless economy.

State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad said the launch would strengthen Pakistan’s financial infrastructure and pave the way for a “new digital era,” while experts note that it could significantly reduce the high costs of printing and distributing cash — especially in remote and rural areas.

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Soramitsu, headquartered in Tokyo, has already implemented blockchain-based payment solutions in several Asian and Pacific nations, but Pakistan’s CBDC rollout is its largest and most ambitious undertaking to date.

One of the most groundbreaking aspects of the digital rupee will be its offline functionality, enabling transactions even without internet access.

The feature could position Pakistan as a global model for digital finance in countries where electricity and connectivity are unreliable.

With the official launch expected before the year’s end, Pakistan joins a growing list of nations exploring CBDCs — but with a unique approach tailored to the country’s technological and infrastructural challenges.