Bitcoin-backed development plan positions Bhutan among the world’s largest sovereign BTC holders
Bhutan has announced plans to allocate a significant portion of its national Bitcoin reserves to support the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a special administrative region designed to drive long-term economic growth. The move highlights Bhutan’s unconventional strategy of integrating digital assets into national development policy.
The Bhutanese government confirmed it will utilize 10,000 Bitcoin, valued at roughly $875 million, to finance infrastructure and economic initiatives within GMC. The city, launched in 2024, is intended to become a new economic hub focused on finance, technology, tourism, green energy, healthcare, and agriculture. It also offers regulatory flexibility for crypto and fintech firms, supporting innovation and investment.
Authorities emphasized that Bitcoin deployment will follow strict governance and capital preservation principles, including risk-managed treasury strategies and long-term holding plans to protect the asset’s value while funding development sustainably.
Bhutan Ranks Among Top Government Bitcoin Holders
Bhutan is estimated to hold approximately 11,286 Bitcoin, largely accumulated through state-backed Bitcoin mining operations powered by renewable energy. At current market prices, the country’s holdings are valued at over $986 million, placing Bhutan as the fifth-largest known sovereign holder of Bitcoin globally.
The initiative aligns with Bhutan’s broader Bitcoin Development Pledge, which seeks to ensure that digital asset wealth benefits the country’s 796,000-plus population. GMC is envisioned as a multi-decade project, built in phases over 20 years, with crypto-based payments, tourism integration, and sovereign digital assets forming a core part of its economic framework.
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