PVARA and the Virtual Assets Act, explained

The Virtual Assets Act 2026 is the law that created a formal regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in Pakistan. Before this law, crypto exchanges and service providers operated in a legal gray area, with no dedicated regulator overseeing their activities.

The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, known as PVARA, is the body established under this Act to license, supervise, and enforce rules for virtual asset service providers, including crypto exchanges, wallet providers, and other businesses that deal in digital assets on behalf of the public.

In practical terms, this means exchanges and platforms operating in Pakistan can apply for a license or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from PVARA. Some platforms are still going through this process, some have been granted approval, and others have not sought approval or have had it revoked.

For everyday users, PVARA registration status is one useful signal when choosing where to buy, sell, or hold crypto assets, alongside factors like security practices, fees, and customer support. A license does not guarantee an exchange is risk free, and the absence of a license does not necessarily mean a platform is unsafe. This page is intended to help you understand the regulatory landscape, not to recommend any specific platform.

We maintain a curated register of exchanges and their known PVARA status, updated as new information becomes available from official sources.