Bhutan has mined over $600 million in Bitcoin using 100% clean hydropower, enough to fund two years of public sector salaries.
With backing from the King and Prime Minister, Bhutan plans to scale its hydropower to 33 GW and become a global leader in green crypto infrastructure.
Bhutan, a country strategically located between China and India, is becoming a leader in sustainable crypto mining. It is leveraging its natural resources for a unique economic future.
According to data from Arkram Intelligence, Bhutan has mined over $600 million in Bitcoin (BTC), which was powered by entirely clean hydropower. The Bitcoin mined was estimated to be enough to cover two full years of government salaries while maintaining a net-zero carbon footprint.
The initiative managed through Bhutan’s sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), began in 2019 as part of a broader strategy to diversify the economy and bolster foreign reserves. With 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of hydropower capacity and plans to scale to 33 GW, Bhutan is converting its abundant natural energy into Bitcoin in a move that’s as much about economic independence as sustainability.
“We’re a nation running 100% on hydropower. Every Bitcoin we mine offsets another that would have relied on fossil fuels,” said Ujjwal Deep Dahal, CEO of DHI.
Bitcoin as an Economic Catalyst
Bhutan’s crypto operations are not a speculative detour—they’re central to a national plan to modernize and fortify the economy. DHI treats Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings as strategic financial assets, now estimated to account for nearly 30% of Bhutan’s GDP. These digital reserves are helping the country build a financial cushion while expanding its presence in the global tech landscape.
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has publicly endorsed the strategy in an interview, calling Bitcoin mining “smart economics,” especially amid youth unemployment, which hit 16.5% in 2024. Over 10% of Bhutan’s youth migrated abroad between 2022 and 2023, so the government is turning to blockchain and AI industries to create domestic jobs and retain talent.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has reportedly backed sweeping digital infrastructure investments, indicating top-level alignment with Bhutan’s tech-forward vision. In a world where many countries are seizing crypto assets, Bhutan is building them—cleanly and legally—from the ground up.
Green Crypto Scaling to 33 GW
Looking ahead, Bhutan aims to expand its hydropower capacity from 3.5 GW to 33 GW over the next 10 to 15 years. That level of energy output could support large-scale data centres, AI compute clusters, and mining farms while also exporting surplus power to neighbouring countries.
This makes Bhutan a rare example of sustainable blockchain infrastructure on a national scale. As ESG mandates tighten worldwide, climate-conscious firms and institutional investors are increasingly interested in Bhutan’s “green coins”—cryptocurrencies mined without fossil fuels.
“Bitcoin has not only enhanced the value of our hydropower—it has also opened up new channels for liquidity in foreign currency,” Dahal added.
These plans also align with Bhutan’s goal of positioning itself as a regional digital leader, capitalizing on the rising demand for carbon-neutral assets and tech-ready infrastructure.
Bhutan may be small, but its strategy is drawing global attention. With El Salvador holding over $550 million in BTC, Bhutan now leads El Salvador in global crypto adoption, claiming over $600 million ownership in BTC.
The United States’ strategic bitcoin reserve and institutional crypto adoption are other strengths of digital currency and its evolution. What sets Bhutan apart is the integration of environmental, economic, and digital priorities into a single framework.
While countries like France and the Central African Republic explore Bitcoin legalization, Bhutan is actively mining, accumulating, and preparing to export clean crypto value. It’s not just adopting Bitcoin—it’s optimizing it.
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