Profit or Peril? Trump’s Controversial Crypto Deal with Pakistan

Paromita Das

New Delhi, 25th August: When Donald Trump re-entered the financial spotlight with his family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial (WLF), few expected it to intersect so deeply with geopolitics. Yet, his latest business alignment with Pakistan—a nation long accused of harbouring extremist elements—has sparked an international debate. According to a detailed report by DisInfo Lab, the deal goes far beyond a routine business arrangement. It intertwines Trump’s personal financial interests with Pakistan’s military-linked crypto ambitions, dragging into the mix shadowy actors with histories of money laundering and terror financing.

At first glance, this looks like just another bold Trumpian business gamble. But beneath the surface lies a troubling reality: this isn’t about strengthening financial systems or innovation—it’s about consolidating power, money, and influence, regardless of global consequences.

The Trump-Pakistan Crypto Nexus

At the heart of this arrangement stands Bilal bin Saqib, a British-Pakistani entrepreneur who now wears two conflicting hats. On one side, he serves as CEO of Pakistan’s newly launched Crypto Council, pitching Islamabad’s “crypto vision.” On the other, he acts as an advisor to Trump’s WLF, effectively straddling both worlds. This dual role places him in a powerful, but ethically questionable, position—serving both Islamabad and the Trump family’s interests.

The timing is also telling. Just days before Pakistan’s deal with WLF was formalized in April 2025, Bilal was appointed as Trump’s crypto advisor. By May, he had assumed leadership of Pakistan’s Crypto Council. His simultaneous role raises red flags: is Pakistan’s national crypto push genuinely independent, or is it designed to funnel resources into Trump’s private enterprise?

The answer may lie in the political optics. Following the pact, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir made two high-profile trips to Washington, new bilateral deals were signed, and, in a bizarre symbolic gesture, Pakistan even nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The timing suggests this is not mere economics—it is political capital disguised as financial innovation.

Binance: The Tainted Partner in the Shadows

The deal becomes even murkier when Binance enters the picture. Often hailed as the world’s largest crypto platform, Binance has also been at the center of global controversy. Its founder, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), served prison time for enabling money laundering that allegedly funded terror outfits like Hamas, al-Qaeda, and ISIS. In 2023, the U.S. imposed a staggering $4.3 billion fine on Binance for repeated violations, including processing Iranian transactions despite sanctions.

Yet, astonishingly, CZ has now resurfaced as Strategic Advisor to Pakistan’s Crypto Council, working directly alongside Bilal. This means that the very platform accused of terror financing is now positioned at the heart of Pakistan’s official crypto framework—one tied directly to Trump’s enterprise.

For a country like Pakistan, whose intelligence and military apparatus have long been accused of supporting extremist groups, this partnership is deeply troubling. For Trump, it raises the uncomfortable question: is he willing to overlook these risks for personal financial gain?

Milbus and Shadow Economies: Who Really Benefits?

The DisInfo Lab report also highlights another layer—Pakistan’s “Milbus” economy. This refers to the sprawling business empire controlled by Pakistan’s retired military officials, often operating outside the defense budget. One such entity, Al Mustafa Trust (AMT), linked to Bilal’s family, has been flagged as a possible military slush fund.

When Pakistan’s crypto ambitions are viewed through this lens, the picture becomes darker. Instead of building transparent, regulated systems, the crypto pact could be a clever mechanism to channel money into military networks under the garb of digital innovation. If Trump’s WLF is entangled in this system, the implications extend far beyond finance—they touch the security architecture of South Asia.

A Business Deal Masquerading as Diplomacy

Trump has always blurred the line between personal ambition and public responsibility. From his real estate empire to his political campaigns, business and politics have often merged seamlessly in his worldview. But this deal marks a new low.

By embracing Pakistan—a state still struggling with its image as a safe haven for terror groups—Trump sends a clear message: financial gain takes precedence over global stability. For the U.S., it signals a dangerous precedent where a former president (and possibly a future one) leverages foreign policy not for America’s national interest, but for personal business ventures.

This is not “America First.” This is “Trump First.”

Crypto Diplomacy or a Trojan Horse?

The convergence of Trump’s family crypto venture, Pakistan’s military-linked funds, and Binance’s tainted legacy has birthed what some are calling “crypto diplomacy.” But in reality, it looks more like a Trojan Horse—a shiny new financial partnership masking old patterns of corruption, money laundering, and terror financing.

The world cannot afford to treat this lightly. Pakistan’s track record with extremist financing, Binance’s legal troubles, and Trump’s personal involvement combine into a volatile mix. What may appear to be a harmless financial pact could, in fact, embolden networks that thrive in the shadows—networks that have already caused global instability.

If this is the future of international business, where political families cut deals with questionable regimes through crypto backdoors, then the line between commerce and complicity has truly blurred. For Trump, it may be just another business opportunity. For the world, it could be a ticking time bomb.