- Bhutan plans to allocate up to 10,000 Bitcoin from its national reserves to help fund Gelephu Mindfulness City.
- The country holds roughly 11,286 Bitcoin, making it the world’s fifth-largest national holder.
- The city will be developed in phases over 20 years and will feature executive autonomy and legal freedoms.
Bhutan is preparing to use part of its national Bitcoin reserves to finance the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a flagship urban project designed to reshape the country’s economic future, according to reports.
The Himalayan kingdom has confirmed plans to allocate up to 10,000 Bitcoin from its holdings to support the new special administrative region, launched in 2024.
This move places Bhutan among a small group of governments actively integrating digital assets into long-term development planning. It also highlights how Bitcoin mining and treasury management are embedded in the country’s broader economic strategy.
Vision for Gelephu Mindfulness City
Gelephu Mindfulness City is located in southern Bhutan near the Indian border and is being positioned as a new economic hub intended to reverse youth outmigration.
The project aims to create high-value jobs and expand opportunities beyond the country’s traditional sectors.
Official plans indicate the city will attract firms across finance, tourism, green energy, technology, healthcare and agriculture.
The special administrative region covers approximately 1,544 square miles, roughly 10% of Bhutan’s total land area.
Its governance structure is designed to provide greater flexibility, especially for crypto and fintech companies, while supporting the expansion of Bhutan’s Bitcoin mining activities.
Officials have described the city as a testing ground for a new economic model that balances innovation with sustainability.
Bitcoin financing strategy
Authorities said various approaches are being considered to manage the Bitcoin allocation, which is valued at several hundred million dollars.
Options include risk-managed yield strategies, treasury-style asset management, and long-term holding plans aimed at protecting and preserving value.
Officials emphasized that development financing will proceed in a stable and sustainable manner, with governance frameworks focused on capital preservation, oversight and transparency.
Bhutan ranks as the fifth-largest national Bitcoin holder, with most of its reserves accumulated through domestic mining operations.
Estimates put the country’s holdings at roughly 11,286 Bitcoin, with a market value approaching one billion dollars. The Gelephu plan represents the most concrete public use yet proposed for this stock of digital assets.
National Bitcoin policy
The decision to deploy Bitcoin toward Gelephu Mindfulness City is part of Bhutan’s broader National Bitcoin Development Pledge, a policy designed to support long-term economic growth through mining and asset management.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has emphasized that the objective is for the project to benefit the country’s entire population of more than 796,000 people.
As part of this approach, Bhutan is developing new land policies intended to protect landowners, prevent widening inequality and ensure shared prosperity.
The city is being framed as a national collective enterprise, with landowners regarded as stakeholders in its success.
Because much land is state-owned, residents from all dzongkhags are expected to share in the project’s benefits.
Governance and rollout
The master plan and legal framework for Gelephu Mindfulness City have been published, and appointments for a governor and board of directors are already in place.
Construction work has begun to clear and prepare the site.
The region has introduced crypto-based payments for merchants and tourism services and launched TER, a government-backed digital token tied to physical gold.
The city is envisioned as an economic corridor linking South Asia and Southeast Asia, featuring executive autonomy and legal freedoms.
Development will proceed in phases over a 20-year timeline, reflecting Bhutan’s long-term strategy to integrate digital assets, infrastructure and governance reforms.