Inflation Protection Calculator
Protect Your Savings from Inflation
Pakistan's currency has lost over 50% of its value against the dollar since 2022. See how much you could loseâand how stablecoins can protect your savings.
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More than one in ten Pakistanis now own cryptocurrency. Thatâs not a guess-itâs a fact backed by multiple industry reports. By the end of 2025, the number of crypto users in Pakistan is expected to hit between 20-27 million, even as the government tries to block exchanges, freeze bank accounts, and push a central bank digital currency (CBDC) instead. Why? Because for millions of ordinary people, crypto isnât a gamble. Itâs survival.
Theyâre Not Trading for Profits-Theyâre Paying Bills
Most people think crypto users are day traders chasing Bitcoin moonshots. Thatâs not true in Pakistan. The average user isnât buying Ethereum because they think itâll hit $10,000 next month. Theyâre using it because their freelance client in the U.S. wonât pay through Western Union, and their bank wonât let them receive dollars. Pakistan has over 7 million freelancers on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. Many of them are students, recent grads, or stay-at-home parents working from bedrooms in Lahore or Karachi. Before crypto, they waited weeks for payments to clear through banks, lost 15-20% to fees, and sometimes got rejected entirely. Now, they receive Bitcoin or USDT directly to their wallets, convert it to PKR via local P2P platforms like Paxful or LocalBitcoins, and pay rent the same day. A 23-year-old graphic designer in Faisalabad told a local news outlet: âI used to get paid in rupees after a month. Now I get paid in crypto in 20 minutes. I donât care if Bitcoin goes up or down-I care that I can feed my family.âInflation Is the Real Driver
The Pakistani rupee lost over 50% of its value against the U.S. dollar between 2022 and 2025. Savings in banks are evaporating. A 2024 study by the Lahore School of Economics found that 68% of crypto users in Pakistan said they bought digital assets to protect their money from inflation-not to make a quick profit. People arenât buying Bitcoin because theyâre rich. Theyâre buying it because their savings in rupees are worth less every week. A 45-year-old shopkeeper in Multan started buying small amounts of USDT after his monthly income dropped from 80,000 PKR to 55,000 PKR in just 18 months. He keeps his crypto in a hardware wallet. âI donât trust the bank,â he said. âBut I trust the blockchain.âThe Government Canât Stop It-And They Know It
In 2022, the State Bank of Pakistan issued a formal ban on cryptocurrency transactions. Banks were told to freeze accounts linked to crypto exchanges. Websites like Binance and Coinbase were blocked. The message was clear: stop using crypto. It didnât work. Instead of shutting down, the market adapted. P2P trading exploded. Users moved to Telegram groups, WhatsApp networks, and local peer-to-peer platforms that operate outside the banking system. Today, over 80% of crypto trades in Pakistan happen through direct, cash-in-hand transfers or mobile wallet swaps. No bank involved. No paperwork. No oversight. Even the governmentâs own data shows the ban failed. In 2024, verified crypto users were estimated at 9 million. By mid-2025, that number jumped to 18.2 million. Industry analysts believe the real number is closer to 40 million when you include unregistered P2P users. The State Bank now admits it canât stop crypto. So itâs trying to replace it-with its own digital currency. The Pakistan Digital Rupee (PDR) is set to launch in early 2026. But hereâs the catch: the PDR will be centralized. The government will control who gets it, how itâs used, and when itâs frozen. Crypto users know that. And theyâre not switching.
Internet Access Is the Real Bottleneck
You might think a country with 20+ million crypto users has great internet. It doesnât. Only 45.7% of Pakistanâs population has reliable high-speed internet. In rural areas, many users rely on mobile data with spotty coverage. A single dropped connection during a trade can mean losing hundreds of dollars. Thatâs why most crypto users in Pakistan use lightweight apps like Trust Wallet or Phantom. They avoid heavy exchanges. They donât use desktop software. They trade via SMS-based P2P platforms or QR code swaps at local crypto meetups in Karachi and Islamabad. A 19-year-old university student in Quetta told me: âI trade crypto with my cousin who lives three blocks away. We meet at a tea shop. He gives me cash. I send him USDT. No app. No internet. Just QR codes.âWhy Pakistan Leads Asia-Even Without Infrastructure
Globally, India has more crypto users (97.5 million), and Nigeria has a higher adoption rate (10.3% of population). But Pakistanâs growth is unique. In India, crypto is often used for speculation. In Nigeria, itâs used for remittances. In Pakistan, itâs used for all three-plus survival. Pakistanâs crypto adoption rate is 4.1% of the population. Thatâs higher than most European countries. And itâs growing faster than anywhere else in Asia. Why? Because the economic pressure is relentless. The youth population is huge-over 60% of Pakistanis are under 30. Theyâre digital natives. Theyâre unemployed or underemployed. And theyâre not waiting for the government to fix things.
What Happens Next?
The government wonât legalize crypto. Not anytime soon. But they also wonât be able to shut it down. The ecosystem is too deep, too decentralized, and too necessary. Expect more P2P networks. More local crypto educators teaching teens how to use wallets. More small businesses accepting crypto as payment. More women entering the space as freelancers and traders. The State Bankâs CBDC might roll out. But it wonât replace crypto. Itâll coexist. And millions of Pakistanis will keep using both-crypto for freedom, and the digital rupee for government payments. The real story isnât about how many people use crypto in Pakistan. Itâs about why they keep using it-even when the system tries to stop them.Whatâs Next for Crypto Users in Pakistan?
If youâre one of the 20+ million crypto users in Pakistan, hereâs what you need to know:- Use hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor for large holdings. Phone wallets are risky if your device gets stolen or hacked.
- Stick to stablecoins like USDT or USDC for daily use. Theyâre less volatile and easier to convert to rupees.
- Join local crypto groups on Telegram or WhatsApp. They share safe P2P traders and warn about scams.
- Donât trust âguaranteed returnsâ from unknown apps. Most are Ponzi schemes.
- Keep backups of your recovery phrase-on paper, not in the cloud.
If youâre thinking of starting, begin small. Buy $5 worth of USDT. Learn how to send it. Learn how to receive it. Talk to someone whoâs been doing it for a year. The learning curve is steep, but the payoff is real.
Is cryptocurrency legal in Pakistan?
No, cryptocurrency is not officially legal in Pakistan. The State Bank of Pakistan banned banks from processing crypto transactions in 2022. However, there is no law that makes owning or trading crypto a criminal offense. The ban targets financial institutions, not individuals. As a result, millions still use crypto through peer-to-peer networks, mobile apps, and cash exchanges.
How do Pakistanis buy crypto without banks?
Most Pakistanis use peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms like Paxful, LocalBitcoins, or local Telegram groups. Buyers and sellers meet in person or use mobile money services like JazzCash or Easypaisa to transfer rupees. The seller then sends crypto directly to the buyerâs wallet. No bank account is needed. Some traders even accept cash at cafes or markets.
Why do Pakistanis prefer USDT over Bitcoin?
USDT (Tether) is a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. It doesnât swing in price like Bitcoin, so users can store value without worrying about sudden drops. Itâs also easier to convert back to Pakistani rupees through P2P networks. Most freelancers use USDT because they get paid in dollars and want to avoid exchange rate losses.
Is the government going to ban crypto completely?
The government has tried to ban crypto multiple times, but enforcement has failed. With over 20 million users and a thriving underground market, a full ban is nearly impossible. Instead, theyâre focusing on launching their own digital currency (PDR) to regain control. Crypto users expect this, and most plan to keep using both systems.
Can I get in trouble for using crypto in Pakistan?
Not if youâre just holding or trading crypto privately. The ban targets banks and exchanges-not individuals. However, if youâre involved in money laundering, fraud, or large-scale unregulated trading, you could face legal issues. Most regular users have never been targeted. The key is to avoid suspicious platforms and keep records of your transactions.
How do I start using crypto in Pakistan safely?
Start with a trusted wallet like Trust Wallet or MetaMask. Buy a small amount of USDT through a verified P2P trader on Paxful or a local Telegram group. Learn how to send and receive it. Donât invest more than you can afford to lose. Join local crypto education groups on Facebook or YouTube. Avoid any platform promising guaranteed returns.
Sammy Krigs
1 11 25 / 18:21 PMlol crypto in pakistan? more like crypto in chaos. theyre not usin it theyre survivin off it. banks are trash, govt is trash, so yeah why not btc? đ
bob marley
2 11 25 / 17:42 PMOh wow, another âcrypto is freedomâ fairy tale. Let me guess-next youâll tell me the Taliban loves Bitcoin because itâs âanti-establishment.â This isnât adoption, itâs desperation dressed up as innovation. And no, âtrust the blockchainâ doesnât make your savings safe when your phone gets stolen or your QR code gets swapped by a guy at a tea shop. Classic case of mistaking necessity for wisdom.
Masechaba Setona
2 11 25 / 22:40 PMPeople think crypto is money⊠but itâs really just a digital prayer. đ When your rupee crumbles and the state turns its back, you donât ask for permission-you just send USDT into the void and hope the universe replies. Thatâs not finance. Thatâs spiritual resistance. đ
naveen kumar
4 11 25 / 02:40 AMLetâs be honest-this is all a Western propaganda campaign disguised as grassroots adoption. The real reason Pakistanis use crypto? Because the U.S. and IMF are quietly funding P2P networks to destabilize the Pakistani state. The CBDC? A necessary countermeasure. The 40 million users? Likely inflated by bots and fake Telegram groups. Donât be fooled by emotional anecdotes. This is geo-economic warfare, not financial empowerment.
Wesley Grimm
5 11 25 / 00:15 AMAdoption rate is 4.1%. Thatâs 20M people. Pakistanâs population is 240M. So 96% arenât using it. And yet you call this a movement? The real story is that 96% of Pakistanis are still trapped in the system you claim to be overthrowing. This isnât a revolution-itâs a niche workaround for a tiny, digitally connected elite. The rest? Still waiting for electricity.
Kymberley Sant
6 11 25 / 21:03 PMusdt is the real MVP here. i mean like⊠who even uses btc to pay rent? no one. its all stablecoins. and p2p via whatsapp? genius. also i saw a vid of a girl in lahore trading crypto with a guy on a motorbike. no internet. just qr code. i cried. its beautiful. đ„ș
mark Hayes
8 11 25 / 07:07 AMMan this is one of those stories that reminds you tech isn't about the tech-it's about people. đŻ People finding ways to feed their kids when the system fails them. No fancy blockchain theory, no whitepapers-just a guy sending USDT so his daughter can eat. That's the real win. Keep it simple. Stay safe. Use hardware wallets. And hey-if you're reading this and you're in Pakistan? You're already winning. đ