- Bhutan plans to allocate up to 10,000 Bitcoins from its national reserves to help fund Gelephu Mindfulness City.
- Bhutan holds approximately 11,286 Bitcoins, making it the world’s fifth-largest national holder.
- The city will be developed in phases over 20 years with executive autonomy and legal independence.
Bhutan is preparing to use part of its national Bitcoin reserves to finance the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a flagship urban project intended to reshape the kingdom’s economic future, according to a Cointelegraph report.
The Himalayan kingdom has confirmed plans to deploy up to 10,000 Bitcoins from its treasury to support the special administrative region launched in 2024.
This decision places Bhutan among a small group of governments actively integrating digital assets into long-term development planning, underscoring how Bitcoin mining and treasury management are becoming central to the nation’s broader economic strategy.
Vision for Gelephu Mindfulness City
Gelephu Mindfulness City, located in southern Bhutan near the Indian border, is conceived as a new economic hub aimed at reversing youth outmigration.
The project seeks to create high-value domestic jobs and diversify opportunities beyond Bhutan’s traditional sectors.
Official plans indicate the city is designed to attract companies in finance, tourism, green energy, technology, healthcare, and agriculture.
The special administrative zone covers roughly 1,544 square miles, about 10% of Bhutan’s total land area.
Its regulatory framework allows greater flexibility, particularly for crypto and fintech businesses, while supporting expanded Bitcoin mining activities within Bhutan.
Officials describe the city as a testing ground for new economic models that balance innovation with sustainability.
Bitcoin financing strategy
According to Cointelegraph, the government said multiple approaches are being considered to manage the Bitcoin allocation, currently valued at roughly $875 million.
Options include risk-managed revenue strategies, treasury-style governance, and long-term holdings designed to preserve and protect asset value.
Authorities emphasized that development funding will be deployed steadily and sustainably, with governance frameworks focused on preservation, oversight, and transparency of capital.
Bhutan ranks as the fifth-largest national holder of Bitcoin, with most of its reserves accumulated through mining operations.
Data from Bitbo estimates the country holds about 11,286 Bitcoins, with a market value exceeding $986 million.
The Gelephu plan represents the most concrete public-use proposal to date for this digital asset stockpile.
National Bitcoin policy
The decision to use Bitcoin for Gelephu Mindfulness City is part of Bhutan’s broader Bitcoin Development Pledge, a national policy aimed at driving long-term economic growth through mining and asset stewardship.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has stated the project’s objective is to ensure benefits reach the whole population of more than 796,682 people.
As part of this approach, Bhutan is developing a new land policy intended to protect landowners, prevent widening inequality, and secure shared national prosperity.
The city is presented as a collective national enterprise, with landowners treated as stakeholders in the project’s success.
Because most land is state-owned, citizens across all Dzongkhags are expected to participate in and benefit from the development.
Governance and implementation
The master plan and legal framework for Gelephu Mindfulness City have already been announced, along with appointments for the governor and an administrative board.
Construction work has begun to clear and prepare the site.
The region has rolled out crypto payment options for merchants and tourism services and launched TER, a sovereign digital token backed by physical gold.
The city is envisioned as an economic corridor connecting South and Southeast Asia, operating with executive autonomy and legal independence.
Development is planned in phases over the next 20 years, reflecting Bhutan’s long-term strategy to integrate digital assets, infrastructure, and governance reforms.