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The Kingdom of Bhutan has committed up to 10,000 Bitcoin—valued at approximately $1 billion—to support the long-term growth of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a visionary economic hub blending sustainability, innovation, and Buddhist-inspired principles.
Announced by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck during his National Day Address on December 17, 2025, the “Bitcoin Development Pledge” positions the cryptocurrency as a strategic national asset. The king emphasized that every Bhutanese would be a “custodian, stakeholder, and beneficiary” of GMC, framing the initiative as a generational investment in youth, jobs, and prosperity.
GMC, located in southern Bhutan near the Indian border, is a special administrative region designed to foster green technology, wellness, education, and mindful businesses while prioritizing Gross National Happiness. The project aims to curb youth migration, attract foreign investment, and create high-value opportunities.
Crucially, Bhutan has ruled out selling the Bitcoin reserves. Instead, officials plan to explore collateralization, risk-managed yield strategies, and long-term holding to generate funding while preserving capital appreciation. This approach builds on the country’s years of renewable hydropower-powered Bitcoin mining, managed through state entity Druk Holding and Investments, which has amassed holdings estimated at over 11,000 BTC.
Analysts hail the pledge as one of the largest sovereign allocations of digital assets to infrastructure, signaling confidence in Bitcoin as a reserve tool. It contrasts with nations selling holdings for short-term gains, offering a model for integrating crypto into public finance without depleting treasuries.
Risks remain, including Bitcoin’s volatility and regulatory hurdles. Yet, Bhutan’s strategy—rooted in environmental sustainability and prudent governance—positions it as a pioneer in sovereign crypto innovation, bridging ancient values with modern digital finance.
