Bhutan Makes Ethereum Its National Standard for Digital Identity with Vitalik Buterin in Attendance
Bhutan has become the first country in the world to adopt the Ethereum blockchain as the foundation for its national digital identity system, setting a global precedent for how blockchain can power national digital systems.
The official launch of the National Digital Identity (NDI) system took place in Thimphu, attended by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay, and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.
Aya Miyaguchi, Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation, also confirmed her attendance at the ceremony in a post on X, describing the rollout as a historic milestone for digital innovation and public trust.
Ethereum Becomes Bhutan’s Digital Backbone
The new NDI system, now fully operational, will see all citizen authentication data migrated to Ethereum by early 2026.
Bhutan’s government said the transition aims to enhance transparency, immutability, and privacy across public systems, three pillars it believes are crucial to secure, citizen-centric governance.
Prime Minister Tobgay called the launch a “new chapter” in Bhutan’s digital transformation, noting that Ethereum’s decentralized and globally distributed infrastructure provides the resilience and trust needed for a modern identity framework.
He added that the system’s interoperability will allow Bhutanese citizens to seamlessly access both local and global services without compromising personal privacy.
“Our goal is to build an inclusive, digitally empowered society where citizens have ownership of their data,” Tobgay said, emphasizing that the initiative aligns with the King’s vision for a transparent and secure digital future.
A Global First in Self-Sovereign Identity
Bhutan’s NDI project is the world’s first national rollout of a self-sovereign identity (SSI), a system that gives individuals full control over their digital credentials. It allows users to prove their identity or specific attributes (such as age or qualifications) without revealing unnecessary personal information.
Initially developed on Hyperledger Indy and later migrated to Polygon in 2024, the NDI platform has now shifted to Ethereum to leverage its proven security, decentralization, and network scale. According to Miyaguchi, this move sets “a new global benchmark for open and secure digital governance.”
Bhutan’s Broader Crypto Ambitions
Bhutan’s embrace of Ethereum comes as part of a wider strategy to integrate blockchain technology into national infrastructure and economic growth.
The country, known for its carbon-neutral policies and abundant hydropower, has quietly become one of the world’s largest sovereign Bitcoin holders, reportedly owning over 11,000 BTC, worth around $1.3 billion.
Bhutan also operates its own state-backed Bitcoin mining operations powered by renewable energy, using profits to support public programs and digital innovation.
By combining a blockchain-powered identity system with its growing crypto portfolio, Bhutan is signaling a new model for national digital economies, one that merges decentralized technology with state oversight.
A Small Nation, a Big Message
For the Ethereum community, Bhutan’s adoption represents a powerful real-world validation of blockchain’s public utility. For Bhutan, it’s a statement of intent, a declaration that a small, landlocked nation can lead globally in redefining how governments and citizens interact in the digital age.
As Miyaguchi put it, “This is not just Bhutan’s achievement, it’s a step forward for all of us building a more open and trusted digital future.”
