Stablecoins offer new payment route

Stablecoins could give Pakistani freelancers another way to collect overseas payments and hold foreign-currency earnings, The Express Tribune reported, citing industry experts. They said these dollar-linked digital currencies could lower transfer costs and delays, although their use would depend on legal permission and stronger safeguards.

A 2026 global survey found stablecoins made up an average 35% of earnings for freelancers and others paid in cryptocurrency. Separately, a survey of 265 senior US business finance and payments executives, all already considering or using stablecoins, found substantial use for supplier payments, payroll and customer receipts; its results do not represent the wider market.

Pakistan is estimated to have nearly three million freelancers, whose foreign exchange earnings reached $1.7 billion in FY26 and $549 million in the first quarter of FY27. The report also said the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulator Authority had received nearly 70 applications from international companies seeking to operate digital currency exchanges legally in Pakistan.