A new Special Administrative Region in Bhutan just announced some exciting plans. They’re officially adopting digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Binance’s BNB token as part of their strategic reserves.
This area, called Gelephu Mindfulness City, aims to create a community focused on “mindfulness, sustainability, and innovation.” It’s a fresh approach to urban development in the southern plains of Bhutan.
The initiative is all about integrating digital assets at a regional level. Bhutan has already made significant strides in the crypto space. Since 2019, the government’s investment arm, Druk Holding & Investments (DHI), has mined over 13,000 Bitcoin. That’s worth around $750 million!
With these reserves, Bhutan ranks among the largest government holders of Bitcoin globally. In fact, they surpass El Salvador, which adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 and holds 5,995 BTC. This move comes on the heels of a report from Fidelity, which predicts more countries will start building Bitcoin reserves this year to protect against inflation and financial deficits.
The Special Administrative Region plans to focus on assets that have high market capitalization, deep liquidity, and established blockchain infrastructure. This will help ensure transparency and resilience.
Special Administrative Regions have a unique status. They usually enjoy more autonomy than other regions in a country. This setup allows them to address specific political, economic, or cultural needs while staying connected to the central government.
This initiative fits into Bhutan's broader strategy to become a hub for blockchain innovation in South Asia. It also aligns with the recent "Application of Laws Act 2024," which created a regulatory framework for digital asset services. Officials from Gelephu Mindfulness City have mentioned a global summit planned for March. The goal? Discussing how to integrate digital assets into strategic reserves and forming an international advisory panel.
Other regions are exploring similar strategies. In the U.S., President-elect Donald Trump has suggested creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve to expand government crypto holdings. El Salvador and the Central African Republic are also working to deepen Bitcoin integration into their financial systems, aiming for economic growth and independence.
On a different note, Dogecoin has had a rough few days. After starting the year strong, rising from $0.314 to nearly $0.40 on January 7, it has lost all those gains. Recently, DOGE fell back to $0.314, dropping nearly 21% in just a couple of days. As of now, it has slightly recovered to $0.318.
Bitcoin and Ethereum have also seen declines. Bitcoin hit a low this year on Thursday morning as investors cashed out of crypto ETFs. According to CoinGecko, Bitcoin dropped below $92,000, reaching a 2025 low of $91,925 before bouncing back to around $93,700. However, it’s still down about 3.5% over the past week as investors pull out of American Bitcoin ETFs, which were approved a year ago.
Fidelity Digital Assets predicts that several countries will start stockpiling Bitcoin this year, leading to wider adoption of the original cryptocurrency. They believe many nations may establish strategic Bitcoin reserves by 2025 to hedge against inflation and currency issues. Global leaders are increasingly warming up to cryptocurrency, especially after the U.S. announced plans to embrace Bitcoin.