Bhutan’s substantial Bitcoin (BTC) holdings, valued at over $750 million, have been publicly identified and labeled on the blockchain intelligence platform Arkham, according to arkhamintelligence.com. These holdings are derived from Bitcoin mining operations conducted by Druk Holdings, the investment arm of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Details of the Holdings
Unlike most government Bitcoin reserves, which typically originate from law enforcement asset seizures, Bhutan’s BTC assets are the result of extensive mining activities. This makes Bhutan the fourth-largest government holder of Bitcoin on the Arkham platform. The mining operations have significantly scaled up since early 2023.
Mining Operations
Bhutan’s Bitcoin mining facilities are located in various locations, with the largest facility situated on the site of the former Education City project. The timeline of on-chain mining activity has been corroborated with time-lapse satellite imagery showing the construction of these facilities.
Global Context
This revelation places Bhutan among the top government holders of Bitcoin globally, highlighting the nation’s strategic approach to leveraging cryptocurrency mining. Other governments with significant Bitcoin holdings typically acquire their assets through confiscations or purchases, making Bhutan’s mining-based accumulation a unique case.
The identification of these holdings by Arkham marks the first time these addresses have been publicly disclosed, providing transparency to the scale and source of Bhutan’s cryptocurrency assets.
For further details, visit the official announcement on arkhamintelligence.com.
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