Bhutan anchors national digital identity on Ethereum

• National Digital Identity on Ethereum
• Enhanced security via blockchain
• Bhutan as a pioneer in crypto infrastructure

The government of Bhutan communicated that its National Digital Identity (NDI) system will be migrated from the Polygon network to Ethereum, as part of a strategic step toward greater security and decentralization. The transition was announced by the country's public broadcaster, which stated that the integration has already begun. Full completion of this process is expected by the first quarter of 2026.

Jigme Tenzing, secretary of the GovTech agency, explained that until now, NDI had been operating on the Polygon network, and that "by migrating to Ethereum, we are further strengthening the security of our digital identity." This change reflects the country's commitment to decentralized technologies to protect sensitive data.

The NDI of Bhutan It is based on self-sovereign identity and allows approximately 800 residents to store and share digital credentials to access public services more independently. The system was originally launched on Polygon in August 2024, replacing a previous implementation on Hyperledger Indy.

During an official ceremony, Ethereum Foundation President Aya Miyaguchi announced that Bhutan had become the first country to "anchor its national digital identity system on Ethereum." Miyaguchi and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin were present alongside Bhutan's Prime Minister and Crown Prince at the launch event.

1/ Today, Bhutan celebrates a historic milestone, becoming the first nation to anchor its national digital identity system on Ethereum. 🇧🇹 the @vitalikbuter 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

Miyaguchi commented:

“When I first visited Bhutan in May 2024, I felt a strong resonance between Bhutan and Ethereum: both believe that visions for the future must be based on strong fundamental values.”

She added that this milestone represents “a global step towards a more open and secure digital future in the long term.”

In addition to integrating blockchain into its national digital infrastructure, Bhutan is also investing in bitcoin. The country ranks as the sixth-largest government holder of BTC, with 6.371 bitcoins in its reserves, trailing only nations such as the US, China, the UK, Ukraine, and the UAE.

The migration to Ethereum places Bhutan at the forefront of government blockchain technology. Citizens are expected to access public services with greater reliability, leveraging the immutability and security offered by the Ethereum network.