How Bhutan is building a green Bitcoin economy from the ground up

Bhutan is developing a state-backed, values-driven "green digital assets" strategy by using its abundant, carbon-free hydropower to mine Bitcoin. This initiative, spearheaded by the sovereign investment arm Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), converts excess electricity—which would otherwise be curtailed—into a liquid digital export, providing foreign-currency liquidity to support government finances. The strategy frames Bitcoin strategically as a "battery" to monetize surplus summer hydropower and convert that value back into electricity or imports when domestic power demand is high. Regulatory control is maintained through the central bank, the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), which permits crypto mining only for entities registered within the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) special jurisdiction, ensuring a controlled, sandbox-style framework to manage risks like volatility and maintain transparency. The success of this model hinges on continued hydropower expansion, disciplined reserve management, and clear public accounting.

(Source：Cointelegraph)