The Kingdom of Bhutan is migrating its National Digital Identity (NDI) system to the Ethereum mainnet, a significant step in its broader “Digital Drukyul” vision. This national strategy focuses on building modern infrastructure that balances technological innovation with sovereignty.

A Strategic Push into Blockchain

The project, a collaboration between Bhutan’s GovTech Agency and the Ethereum Foundation, aims to expand on-chain services for its citizens. Key goals include enhancing identity verification and enabling secure cross-border applications. To foster development, the partnership plans to support the local ecosystem through hackathons and other developer initiatives.

This migration is the latest in a series of moves demonstrating Bhutan’s commitment to blockchain technology. It follows the decision by Gelephu Mindfulness City to add Bitcoin, Ethereum, and BNB to its strategic reserves and the launch of a crypto-based tourism payment system in partnership with Binance. These efforts highlight a coordinated approach to using blockchain for both governance and economic development.

While other nations, including Brazil and Vietnam, are exploring similar self-sovereign identity pilots, Bhutan’s full-scale implementation positions it as a pioneer in developing decentralized public infrastructure.