ISLAMABAD – Technology entrepreneur and Stanford University Master’s degree holder in Business, Waqar Zaka, announced selling brand-new 2026 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon he won after topping the international TradFi Masters trading competition, saying the proceeds will fund an ambitious education initiative aimed at nurturing world-class talent in Pakistan.
Zaka said the project will focus on supporting madrasas, Hafiz-e-Quran students, and academically gifted Pakistanis with the goal of strengthening their foundations in mathematics, physics and artificial intelligence (AI), ultimately helping them compete for prestigious global honours such as the Fields Medal and even contribute research worthy of future Nobel Prize recognition.
The technology entrepreneur, who holds a Master’s in Business from Stanford University, California, said he intends to identify selected religious seminaries where students have already demonstrated exceptional dedication by memorising the Holy Quran. These students will be provided structured education in mathematics and physics to help them transition into advanced scientific studies.
According to Zaka, the long-term objective is to create an educational pathway that enables talented Pakistanis from diverse backgrounds to compete internationally in mathematics while encouraging scientific innovation capable of earning global recognition.
Recognised as a crypto expert by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in 2021, Zaka said the initiative is designed to invest in education rather than charity. He stressed that the programme will not distribute free cash. Instead, financial support will be directed towards Pakistanis committed to academic excellence, particularly those aspiring to study at leading institutions such as Stanford University and other Ivy League universities.
Zaka said every participant receiving assistance will have to meet a community service requirement by planting trees on a regular basis—either daily or monthly—and sharing progress updates through WhatsApp. He said this condition is intended to promote accountability and environmental responsibility, adding that financial assistance without effort or responsibility does not produce meaningful long-term change.
In contrast to public figures who often showcase luxury vehicles and lavish lifestyles, Zaka said he has decided to liquidate the high-value G-Wagon instead of keeping it, redirecting the funds towards education and talent development.
The entrepreneur also reflected on his competitive trading journey, saying he has participated in international trading tournaments over the past five years. He finished third in a 2022 competition, seventh in a contest held during the Covid-19 period, and fifth in a cryptocurrency tournament in 2024 before eventually securing first place in the latest multi-asset TradFi Masters competition.
Discussing the global trading contest landscape, Zaka noted that many online competitions are not government-regulated and are comparable to unofficial cricket matches organised on different grounds. He cited the CME Futures Tournament in the United States as an example, explaining that it is primarily a demo-based competition featuring Bitcoin price movements with a prize of around $2,500. He added that Pakistani citizens are not eligible to participate because the event is limited to selected countries.
Zaka also compared the Robbins Cup, describing it as a year-long competition focused exclusively on stock trading without cryptocurrency participation.
According to him, the latest generation of multi-asset trading competitions. which allow participants to trade real capital across stocks, commodities and cryptocurrencies, are relatively unique and offer substantially larger prize pools than demo-based tournaments such as the CME Futures competition or the Robbins Cup.
His announcement sparked hope about education-led national development, with Zaka reiterating his belief that Pakistan can produce future Fields Medal winners and Nobel-level researchers by investing in talented students from every segment of society, including traditional religious institutions.
Crypto expert Waqar Zaka wins global competition, receives 2026 Mercedes G-Wagon in Dubai
