The Kingdom of Bhutan has taken its bitcoin strategy a step further by allocating 10,000 BTC, worth roughly $1 billion, to support the long-term development of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a new special administrative and economic region focused on mindfulness, sustainability, and innovation.

The initiative was announced by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck during his National Day Address and reflects Bhutan’s vision of leveraging digital technologies for future generations. Authorities are exploring several responsible approaches to manage the pledged bitcoin, including collateralization, yield strategies, and long-term holding to preserve asset value.

Bhutan emphasized that the use of BTC within GMC will follow principles of prudence, transparency, and strong governance. Beyond being a mindfulness hub, GMC aims to offer regulatory clarity, financial connectivity, and a collaborative environment for digital asset firms. The move builds on Bhutan’s early adoption of bitcoin, including its quiet BTC mining operations powered by clean energy since 2017.