Bhutan leveraged its Bitcoin holdings, valued at over $600 million by Arkham as of April 9, to double civil servant salaries in 2023, with a renewed green crypto push announced on April 17, 2025, per Al Jazeera. The strategy uses hydropower for mining, aiming to create jobs and combat brain drain, with the government exploring stablecoin integration to stabilize its economy. This positions Bhutan as a unique adoption case, but its 30% GDP reliance on crypto raises sustainability concerns.
Critics on social platforms argue that over-dependence on volatile assets could backfire if markets crash, especially with China’s $1.4 billion crypto disposal looming. Supporters see it as a model for small nations, potentially inspiring others like El Salvador, though scalability and regulatory alignment remain untested. This innovative approach could redefine adoption narratives if Bhutan balances growth with stability.