The Kingdom of Bhutan is transitioning its National Digital Identity (NDI) system from Polygon to Ethereum, marking a major move in the country’s ongoing blockchain transformation strategy. The Bhutan Broadcasting Service, which is the public broadcaster of the country, informed that the switch is already halfway through and the complete changeover is anticipated by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
As per GovTech Agency Secretary Mr. Jigme Tenzing, “security strengthening” is the main reason why Bhutan’s NDI is moving to Ethereum. With the NDI platform, which was first brought into operation on Polygon in Bhutan in August 2024, each of the roughly 800,000 Bhutanese people can have a digital credential that is verifiable and can be shared with the government and private sectors securely.
The technology of self-sovereign identity (SSI) has been used so as to enable each citizen to be the owner and manager of his/her personal data while at the same time respecting the national privacy regulations. Deploying the NDI on Ethereum, Bhutan is betting on the blockchain of her choice, offering decentralization, a high standard of security, and support from the global developer community.
According to Aya Miyaguchi, President of the Ethereum Foundation, “Bhutan is the very first country globally to embed the national digital identity system straight onto the Ethereum mainnet”. In a statement she posted to X, Miyaguchi presented the integration as “a national landmark and a worldwide move towards an open and secure digital future”.
At the official launch ceremony in Thimphu, Miyaguchi and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin were present. Bhutan’s increasing influence in the real-world implementation of blockchain technology was one of the highlights of the event. Miyaguchi recounted her visit to Bhutan in May 2024 and commented on the common spirit between Bhutan and Ethereum: “Both are companies/organizations that see the future only if it is built on strong values.”
Bhutan is a country that has gone a long way to become one of the most blockchain-progressive nations in Asia. The country has diversified its reserves by being involved in Bitcoin mining, besides the digital identity project. As per BitcoinTreasuries data, Bhutan has 6,371 BTC, making it the sixth-largest government holder of Bitcoin globally – it is behind the U.S., China, the U.K., Ukraine, and the UAE.
