The really clever part is they’re mining it all with clean hydropower from their mountain rivers.
A South Asian country with a population of nearly 790,000 (that’s smaller than the relatively tiny US state of Maryland), Bhutan is now the fourth-largest government Bitcoin holder globally, mining 13,011 BTC.
That accounts for more than 25% of the nation’s GDP.
While El Salvador made headlines with their recent Bitcoin win, Bhutan’s been quietly building up their crypto holdings since 2021. Their strategy? Less hype, more hydro. They’re taking a pragmatic approach too – recently moving US$65M to Binance, showing they’re not afraid to actively manage their holdings.
The timing couldn’t be better. With Bitcoin smashing through US$89,000, Bhutan currently looks well-positioned to reap the benefits. And if US president-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises about crypto-friendly regulations materialize, we might be seeing just the beginning of state-level crypto adoption.
Bhutan’s playbook is gold: Find your natural advantage (in their case, abundant hydropower) and think long-term. Whether you’re running a startup or managing community tokens, there’s something to learn from this kingdom’s quiet revolution in the clouds.
When a Buddhist kingdom known for measuring Gross National Happiness becomes a crypto powerhouse, you know the game is changing. Who’s next?
