Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay reveals how the country’s Bitcoin reserves fund public salaries and environmental projects, all powered by clean hydroelectric energy.
Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has stated that the country is actively using its Bitcoin reserves to fund essential national expenditures, including public salaries, healthcare, and environmental projects.
The strategy has proven particularly useful during a period of contraction in tourism revenue, a sector historically vital for Bhutan’s economy. According to Arkham Intelligence data, the nation currently holds 10,635 bitcoins, worth nearly one billion dollars.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, the Prime Minister said:
“We have used Bitcoin to provide free healthcare and support environmental efforts, but the most important use has been to finance the salaries of public servants.”
Tobgay then rhetorically asked:
“Hundreds of people have made significant profits from Bitcoin. Why shouldn’t governments adopt similar strategies?”
What sets Bhutan apart is its sustainable approach: Bitcoin mining is done using only clean hydroelectric power, which the country has in abundance thanks to its mountainous terrain.
