In the ever-murky intersection of geopolitics and blockchain, one name is emerging with increasing frequency — Bilal Bin Saqib. He’s not a career diplomat. He’s not a Washington insider. And he certainly doesn’t speak for Donald Trump. But as an advisor to the Trump-backed DeFi project World Liberty Financial Initiative (WLFi) and CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council, he’s managed to place himself at the confluence of diplomacy, crypto, and regional politics in a way that few expected.
Bilal’s journey to this moment has been anything but traditional. Educated at the London School of Economics, he first gained public attention after a 2019 confrontation with spiritual leader Sadhguru, during which he challenged the speaker on his remarks about Islam. The incident went viral and brought Bilal into the public spotlight as a poised, articulate voice unafraid to ask difficult questions.
Since then, he’s evolved into a social entrepreneur, Web3 strategist, and now a visible figure in the global crypto movement. As CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, he remains a respected advocate for emerging tech in the Muslim world.
Beyond the subcontinent, Bilal is expanding Pakistan’s digital finance alliances. In April, he met with Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan, to explore collaborations in blockchain technology, digital assets, and Shariah-compliant finance. This initiative underscores Pakistan’s ambition to position itself as a leader in the Islamic world’s digital economy.
WLFi’s Trump affiliation has attracted predictable criticism, especially in progressive circles. But Bilal’s presence complicates the narrative. He is not an ideological actor, nor a political one. Those who know him describe him as pragmatic, focused on building new financial infrastructure and bringing inclusion to regions traditionally left out of the crypto conversation.
What Bilal has done is not diplomacy in the traditional sense. But in 2025, it may be what diplomacy looks like now.
