Is crypto mining legal in Bhutan?

Crypto mining in Bhutan is legal for approved operators, and the biggest miner is the state itself. As of November 2026, the central bank limits mining to firms inside the Gelephu Mindfulness City framework, while DHI, the government's commercial and investment arm, has mined with partners for years. The legal framework is set out in is crypto legal in Bhutan.

Does Bhutan mine bitcoin?

Yes. DHI's chief executive Ujjwal Deep Dahal has said DHI began adding crypto to its portfolio in 2019, Cointelegraph reported. In a May 3, 2023 press release, DHI announced it would jointly develop green digital asset mining with Bitdeer, aiming to run a 100% carbon-free mining data centre.

Officials describe the strategy in energy terms. Dahal has called bitcoin a kind of battery, a way to turn surplus hydropower into a foreign-currency asset. Senior officials in Thimphu told Cointelegraph that crypto-related profits had helped pay government salaries over two years.

How does Bhutan bitcoin mining work?

The large sites are run by Bitdeer under a fund of up to US$500 million set up with DHI. According to The Bhutanese, the first project was a 100 MW mine at Gedu, and a second 500 MW site at Jigmeling Industrial Park, near Gelephu, would bring the partnership to about 600 MW. The paper said Bhutan expected a revenue share, taxes on profits and land lease charges, plus 120 to 150 local jobs.

Bhutan's state broadcaster BBS reported that the Jigmeling centre began phased operations in early April 2025, describing it as Bitdeer's second-largest mining data centre. It runs mainly on hydropower. The Bhutanese noted that run-of-river plants produce far less in winter, so the mine can be shut down when power is scarce and imports are costly. The general mechanics are covered in how do bitcoin mining farms work.

Is Bhutan crypto mining still running?

The government says little about it. In April 2026, DL News reported that blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence tracked state-linked wallets falling from about 13,000 BTC at the end of 2024 to about 3,774 BTC. Some analysts pointed to the lack of large mining inflows for over a year as a sign that mining had slowed or stopped. Neither the government nor DHI responded to DL News, so the claims were unconfirmed.

Wallet tracking only shows coins moving, not why. Bhutan appears on lists of who owns the most bitcoin because of these holdings, and mining rules elsewhere are compared in is crypto mining legal.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the Royal Monetary Authority, Gelephu Mindfulness City or a qualified professional for your own situation.