Is Bhutan planning a strategic Bitcoin reserve?

Strategic Bitcoin reserves are currently a hot topic in the crypto world. While major countries such as the US and Brazil are considering the introduction, plans are becoming more concrete in Bhutan.

The "Gelaphu Mindfulness City" (GMC), a new special administrative zone in the tiny Asian kingdom, has in a press release announced that it wants to include "digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and BNB" in its strategic reserves. Specifically, any digital assets that have "sufficient market capitalization and liquidity" would be eligible.

The goal is to increase the economic resilience of the special administrative zone while creating new opportunities for Bitcoin mining offer. The GMC project was launched in 2024 after Bhutan contributed $100 million in seed capital. It aims to create an economic corridor between South and Southeast Asia. Whether the rest of the country will also follow the example of the special administrative zone remains to be seen.