Gelephu, Bhutan — Bhutan has officially brought its national gold reserves into the digital age. Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), the country’s flagship innovation district, today unveiled TER, a sovereign-backed digital token fully collateralized by physical gold.
Named after the Dzongkha word for “Treasure,” TER reflects Bhutan’s longstanding tradition of stewardship — and its readiness to fuse cultural heritage with next-generation financial infrastructure.
A Sovereign Digital Asset Rooted in Real-World Gold
As the issuing authority of TER, GMC is positioning Bhutan as one of the first nations to bring sovereign-grade, gold-backed digital assets to the global market. The initiative is part of GMC’s broader mission to build a values-driven digital economy where technology, transparency, and sustainability reinforce each other.
To safeguard the asset and ensure regulated access, GMC has partnered with DK Bank, Bhutan’s first fully digital bank. Regulated by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan and the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority, DK Bank will serve as the exclusive distributor and custodian of TER.
In its first rollout phase, users will purchase TER directly through DK Bank, mirroring the familiar experience of buying physical gold from a major financial institution—only with the convenience and auditability of blockchain settlement.
Loading tweet...
View Tweet
Built on Solana, Powered by Institutional Tokenization Infrastructure
TER will be issued on Solana, selected for its speed, low cost, and energy efficiency. This combination allows Bhutan to deliver a digital asset that is not only globally accessible but also aligned with the Kingdom’s environmental commitments.
To bring the asset onchain securely, GMC has appointed Matrixdock—the real-world asset (RWA) division of Matrixport Group—as its tokenization partner. Known for pioneering institutional-grade gold tokenization, Matrixdock brings the infrastructure necessary for a transparent, auditable, and regulatory-aligned product.
A New Gateway to Gold for Global Investors
TER offers a modern path for international investors seeking the stability of gold with the liquidity and borderless reach of digital assets. As a token backed 1:1 by physical gold, TER provides:
A sovereign guarantee
Transparent, verifiable backing
A tax-efficient, digital hedge against volatility
Access to physical-asset security without the friction of traditional custody
The product expands Bhutan’s emerging role in responsible digital asset innovation.
Loading tweet...
View Tweet
Leaders on the Launch of TER
Jigdrel Singay, Board Director at GMC, highlighted how TER advances Bhutan’s mission:
“TER marks a foundational step in building a values-driven digital economy rooted in real-world assets and sovereign trust. It shows how a crypto-friendly city can welcome innovation while staying grounded in Bhutan’s principles of transparency, sustainability, and stewardship.”
Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, noted:
“We are honored that GMC selected Solana to support TER. This collaboration showcases how forward-looking nations can use Solana’s speed, low cost, and efficiency to create high-quality, sovereign-backed digital products.”
John Ge, CEO of Matrixport, added:
“Matrixdock is proud to support the TER launch. Our partnership with GMC reflects a shared commitment to building trusted, transparent, globally connected financial infrastructure.”
Bhutan’s Digital Momentum Continues
The launch of TER builds on a series of national milestones as Bhutan accelerates its transition toward responsible digital modernization:
National Digital Identity on Ethereum
Bhutan became the first nation to anchor its digital identity system on Ethereum, allowing nearly 800,000 citizens to securely access public services by 2026.Binance Pay Adoption for Tourism & Merchants
Earlier this year, the Kingdom integrated Binance Pay to streamline crypto payments across retail and tourism.A Global Leader in Renewable Bitcoin Mining
Bhutan has mined Bitcoin with hydropower since 2018 and remains one of the world’s largest sovereign Bitcoin holders.
With TER, the country adds “digitized gold” to its expanding portfolio of sovereign-backed digital initiatives.
