When YouTube was banned in Pakistan, Reality TV star Waqar Zaka “had no choice” but to turn to Bitlanders – an AI educational social platform, to monetize his content in Bitcoin (BTC). Cointelegraph interviewed Zaka for the latest episode of Crypto Stories to find out how this celebrity stood up to the Pakistani government.
Zaka claimed that the capital gains he was earning in Bitcoin were “nothing” compared to his earnings on YouTube, but that no one believed in the origins of his newfound financial freedom. Aiming to make his native Pakistan rich in cryptocurrencies, he decided to trade his job in the media and entertainment world for study materials in Bitcoin.
When the tech-averse Pakistani government banned Bitcoin in 2017, Zaka petitioned against and won. He took to social media to speak out against the unconstitutional acts of the government, offer advisory support, and encourage the Pakistani people to invest in cryptocurrencies. Zaka was then appointed to a short-lived venture to run Pakistan’s first cryptocurrency mining farm using hydroelectric power.
When Bitcoin was still at $5,000, Zaka challenged the government to invest 1% of its budget and put his property up as collateral. He got the government to enact an order that does not criminalize cryptocurrency mining and investment unless it is proven that it is billed in illegal activities.
Recently, Pakistan President Arif Alvi called for more training in blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity during a meeting with blockchain experts.
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