Gelephu, a special administrative region in Bhutan, announced plans to include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Binance Coin in its strategic reserves, making it one of the first jurisdictions globally to incorporate digital assets into its reserve strategy.
Crypto as a Catalyst for Economic Growth
Gelephu's decision reflects its vision to become the "Hong Kong of South Asia." Strategically located near South Asia's rapidly growing economies, Gelephu aims to serve over two billion people in the region. Including BTC, ETH, and BNB is part of a strategy to adopt mature digital assets with high market capitalization for transparency and security.
Strategic Partnerships and Vision
Gelephu's development has attracted international attention, including a partnership with the Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). BIG is opening an office in Bhutan to work on Gelephu's development. In March 2025, a high-level meeting is planned to bring together government and industry leaders to discuss integrating digital assets into reserves.
Bhutan’s Lead in Sustainable Crypto Adoption
Bhutan distinguishes itself from regional peers like India with its active crypto adoption. Hydropower, accounting for 30% of the country's GDP, supports Bhutan's success in Bitcoin mining with significant reserves of Bitcoin.
Bhutan, leveraging hydropower, actively integrates cryptocurrencies into its strategic plans, potentially becoming a model for other countries in the region.
