Bhutan to anchor its national digital identity system on Ethereum

Bhutan is transitioning its National Digital Identity (NDI) system to Ethereum from Polygon, as the South Asian nation continues its drive in blockchain innovation.

The Bhutan Broadcasting Service, the country's public broadcaster, reported Monday that its current Polygon-based NDI platform has been integrated with the Ethereum blockchain, with the full migration expected by the first quarter of 2026.

Jigme Tenzing, the Secretary of the GovTech Agency, said that the country has been using Polygon blockchain for NDI, and "by moving to Ethereum, we are further strengthening the security of our digital identity," according to the report.

Bhutan NDI uses self-sovereign identity technology to allow its approximately 800,000 residents to store and share digital credentials for online services. The NDI project started to run its system on Polygon in August 2024. 

Ethereum Foundation President Aya Miyaguchi said on X that Bhutan has become the first nation to "anchor its national digital identity system on Ethereum." Both Miyaguchi and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin attended a launch ceremony on Monday in Bhutan.

"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 grounded in strong foundational values," said Miyaguchi. "This milestone marks not only a national achievement but a global step toward a more open and secure digital future for the long term."

While Bhutan has incorporated blockchain technology into its digital economy infrastructure, the country has also been mining bitcoin in recent years to build its crypto reserves. It currently ranks as the world's sixth-largest government holder of bitcoin, with 6,371 BTC — trailing the U.S., China, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates, according to BitcoinTreasuries data.

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