Bhutan is making one of the boldest sovereign bets on Bitcoin to date — not as speculation, but as long-term national infrastructure.
The Kingdom has unveiled a Bitcoin Development Pledge committing up to 10,000 BTC toward the multi-year development of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a new economic hub in southern Bhutan designed around mindfulness, sustainability, and innovation.
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At current valuations, the pledge represents nearly $1 billion in sovereign Bitcoin reserves, earmarked to support economic growth, job creation, and long-term national resilience.
Bitcoin as National Infrastructure
Rather than treating Bitcoin as a short-term asset, Bhutan is framing it as a strategic development tool.
The pledge aligns with the vision of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who has emphasized careful, patient adoption of modern technologies in service of future generations. The commitment will be implemented over time using responsible, risk-managed approaches, including options such as:
Collateralizing BTC reserves for development financing
Carefully structured yield and treasury strategies
Long-term holding models focused on capital preservation
All decisions will be guided by strong governance, transparency, and a clear priority: protecting Bitcoin’s long-term value while deploying it responsibly for national benefit.
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Bhutan’s Bitcoin strategy is built on a unique advantage — renewable energy.
The country was among the earliest sovereign Bitcoin miners, using surplus hydropower generated by its national energy infrastructure. During periods when electricity production exceeds domestic demand, excess clean energy is converted into digital assets, creating long-term value without additional environmental impact.
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This model will continue, with Bitcoin mining tied directly to Bhutan’s renewable energy surplus.
Gelephu Mindfulness City: A New Economic Blueprint
The Bitcoin pledge is anchored to the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a Special Administrative Region designed to attract global talent and investment while remaining rooted in Bhutanese values.
GMC is being built as a values-led economic zone, offering regulatory clarity, modern financial connectivity, and a long-term framework for collaboration across technology, finance, and sustainability. Bhutan is actively engaging with responsible international fintech and digital asset partners to participate in this vision.
A Track Record, Not a First Step
This announcement builds on Bhutan’s steady integration of digital infrastructure across the country. Already, Bhutan has:
Accumulated significant national Bitcoin reserves through clean energy
Anchored its national digital identity system on public blockchain infrastructure, serving nearly 800,000 citizens
Integrated digital assets into GMC’s strategic reserves
Enabled crypto-based payments across merchants and tourism services
Launched TER, a sovereign-backed digital token linked to physical gold
Together, these initiatives reflect a methodical, long-term approach to innovation — focused on real-world utility rather than hype.
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“For Our People, Our Youth, and Our Nation”
In his National Day Address, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck framed the pledge as a shared national commitment:
“As your King, I must ensure that every Bhutanese is a custodian, stakeholder, and beneficiary of GMC. Think of GMC as a company and landowners as its shareholders. Since most land is state-owned, Bhutanese from all Dzongkhags will share in its success. To support this policy, I am announcing today the allocation of up to 10,000 BTC, valued at approximately USD 1 billion. This commitment is for our people, our youth, and our nation.”
His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
The pledge represents a rare experiment: using decentralized digital assets not for speculation, but to fund a future economy built on mindfulness, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
Read the full Bhutan Bitcoin Development Pledge: https://gmc.bt/pledge
