Bhutan is embracing blockchain technology at a national scale, announcing that its digital identity infrastructure will now run on the Ethereum network, a groundbreaking step that positions the Himalayan kingdom as a global leader in decentralized governance.
The initiative will allow nearly 800,000 citizens to securely manage, verify, and authenticate their identities through a self-sovereign digital ID system. Government officials said the full migration of records is expected by early 2026, completing a multi-year journey toward digital autonomy.
From Pilot to National Integration
Bhutan’s digital identity effort began as a Hyperledger Indy pilot, later transitioning to Polygon in 2024 for improved scalability. The latest shift to Ethereum underscores the government’s confidence in the network’s security, transparency, and global interoperability.
1/ Today, Bhutan celebrates a historic milestone, becoming the first nation to anchor its national digital identity system on Ethereum. 🇧🇹@VitalikButerin and I were honored to join the launch ceremony on behalf of the Ethereum community, graced by His Royal Highness. pic.twitter.com/KA4tOYbsJ4
— Aya Miyaguchi (@AyaMiyagotchi) October 13, 2025
At a ceremony marking the announcement, attended by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuk, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, and Ethereum Foundation President Aya Miyaguchi, the project was hailed as a historic first for blockchain-based governance.
Miyaguchi praised Bhutan’s decision as “a milestone for open, citizen-led identity,” saying it demonstrates how nations can merge tradition with technology to build inclusive digital societies.
With this move, Bhutan becomes the first country to anchor a national ID system directly on Ethereum, signaling a new era in public-sector blockchain adoption, one where citizens control their data, and national trust is built on open, decentralized technology.