Bitcoin, ether and BNB will be part of that entity’s strategic reserves.
The reserve will improve the economic resilience of that administrative region, according to the announcement.
The special administrative region of Bhutan Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) announced this Wednesday that it will recognize bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH) and BNB as part of its strategic reserves. This makes the region one of the first jurisdictions to officially have digital assets as part of their national treasuries.
The entity said in a press release that the inclusion of these digital assets in the strategic reserves of the GMC will improve the economic resilience of the special administrative region and it is an evolution in its participation in the Bitcoin mining.
For its strategic reserves, the GMC intends to recognize digital assets that have large market capitalizations and deep liquidity, as is the case of BTC, ETH and BNB.
This ensures that they can be easily bought and sold with minimal impact on price. In addition, the GMC will seek recognize digital assets that are issued on “more mature and secure” networks, that support monitoring of on-chain transactions, according to the announcement.
Gelephu Mindfulness City is located on the land bridge connecting the fast-growing economies of South Asia. The city is in a unique position to serve more than 2 billion people in the region. One of its key economic focuses is to promote and support the use of the technology inherent in Bitcoin, in line with the administrative region’s emphasis on innovation and the development of new technologies.
The region is defined by integrate “traditional Bhutanese values”as well as globally accepted legal frameworks, cutting-edge design and technology. “And it harnesses the Kingdom’s abundant green energy to serve as a global example of holistic development,” they said, referring to its mining activity.
GMC noted that the announcement follows the enactment of GMC Law No. 1 of 2024, known as the “Law Enforcement Act 2024,” which was announced on December 26, 2024.
This set of laws established the legal and regulatory framework in GMC for companies seeking to offer financial services involving digital assets. The enactment of this law, along with the recognition of digital assets such as BTC, ETH and BNB as part of the GMC strategic reserves, aims drive growth of the digital asset ecosystem within a technologically progressive, but well-regulated environment, the entity noted in its announcement.
A meeting with bitcoin industry leaders
In March 2025, GMC will convene a high-level meeting in the Kingdom of Bhutan. This meeting will include senior government officials and industry leaders of cryptocurrencies around the world “to discuss the recognition of digital assets as part of the strategic reserves of a jurisdiction,” the entity said.
Bhutan has placed itself on the radar of bitcoiners due to its enormous mining activity, accumulating a total of 11,668 BTC at the close of this report, according to BitcoinTreasuries. The entity has given investment lessons in bitcoin to humanity, with reserves in the digital currency which represent more than 30% of its GDP. Bhutan is the fifth largest government holder of bitcoin in the world. In first place is the United States, followed by China, the United Kingdom and Ukraine, as CriptoNoticias recently reported.
This move by Bhutan and its GMC towards integrating cryptocurrencies into its strategic reserves reflects a global trend towards the acceptance and regulation of digital assets. The decision not only underlines confidence in the stability and growth potential of these currencies, but also Bhutan’s commitment to technological innovation and environmental sustainability, using its renewable energy to support this initiative.
The inclusion of bitcoin, ether and BNB in GMC’s strategic reserves is a clear sign of the direction Bhutan wants to take in the digital sphere. By focusing on assets with high liquidity and market capitalization, GMC aims towards a more robust and flexible economic foundation, capable of responding to global market fluctuations.
The meeting planned for March 2025 will be a crucial point for GMC and Bhutan. Not only will it serve to consolidate the region’s position in the world of cryptocurrencies, but it could also set precedents and standards for other jurisdictions. interested in following a similar path.
