Bhutan has unveiled a national Bitcoin Development Pledge. It will allocate up to 10,000 bitcoin (BTC), valued at around US$860 million at current prices, to support the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City.

The commitment frames bitcoin as a strategic national asset rather than a speculative holding.

Authorities are exploring responsible approaches, such as collateralisation, treasury management strategies, or long-term holding, to fund development while preserving value, according to CoinDesk.

Authorities expect to make final decisions on how the assets will be deployed in the coming months.

Gelephu Mindfulness City operates as a special administrative region.

It uses digital assets as part of its financial reserves. It also serves as a central pillar of Bhutan’s broader blockchain strategy to diversify the economy and attract investment.

Bhutan was among the earliest sovereign bitcoin miners, having converted surplus hydropower into digital assets for several years.

The government said it will continue using excess clean energy to mine bitcoin without increasing environmental impact.

The pledge builds on a wider digital agenda.

This includes a blockchain-based national digital identity, crypto-enabled payments for tourism and merchants, and the recent introduction of TER, a sovereign-backed gold token.

Together, Bhutan positions these initiatives as a way to blend digital finance with governance, sustainability and social outcomes.

The focus is particularly on younger generations.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by kutsallenger via Freepik