Bhutan is Moving Its Digital Identity to Ethereum

Recently, one of the remarkable developments in the cryptocurrency world is Bhutan's new move as it has become wealthy with Bitcoin. Bhutan has decided to transition its National Digital Identity (NDI) system from the Polygon network to the Ethereum network. This transformation indicates a project planned to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, according to news from Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS). Jigme Tenzing, Secretary of Bhutan's GovTech Agency, emphasized that the goal of this transition is to enhance the security of the digital identity infrastructure, stating that "We were operating our NDI system on Polygon, but with the transition to Ethereum, we are taking security a step further."

With a population of approximately 800,000, the country enables its citizens to securely store and share their digital identity information through the NDI system. It is known that the project was launched on Polygon in August 2024. Aya Miyaguchi, President of the Ethereum Foundation, stated that Bhutan is "the first country to move its national digital identity system to Ethereum." Miyaguchi and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin also attended the ceremony held in Bhutan this week. Miyaguchi remarked, "When I first visited Bhutan in 2024, I felt a strong alignment between the values of Ethereum and Bhutan’s vision. This step represents a significant stride not just for Bhutan, but for a transparent and secure digital future on a global scale."

Bhutan's move in the crypto space not only increases the security of digital identity but also strengthens efforts to integrate blockchain technology into government infrastructure. Moreover, the country is also drawing attention with its Bitcoin mining activities. Bhutan currently holds 6,371 Bitcoins, making it the sixth-largest country in the world in terms of Bitcoin holdings. This amount follows the USA, China, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates.