Statute of Happiness

 ⚡️💬 There's a country lost in the Himalayas that has taken the crazy gamble of getting into Bitcoin mining.

Bhutan 🇧🇹

No one would have believed that this small country, wedged between India and China, would become a Bitcoin giant.

Here's the incredible story of a country turning its rivers into Bitcoin ⤵︎

Imagine a country where happiness is more important than money.

A country perched in the clouds, which has long resisted globalization...

And now holds more Bitcoins than El Salvador.

A country so small it could fit into a corner of Texas.

That country is Bhutan.

"Who could have bet on Bhutan?"

This question was first asked by Paola Origel, an analyst at the Hyla Fund, when she learned that this small Himalayan kingdom, famous for its Gross National Happiness indicator, possessed... 11,500 Bitcoin, equivalent to $1.37 billion.

To give an order of magnitude, these BTC represent 21% of Bhutan's GDP. A world record.

Even El Salvador, which has made Bitcoin its national currency, lags far behind.

And Bhutan didn't buy these Bitcoins; it mined them, thanks to its rivers.

➥ To understand it all, we need to go back to 2011, when King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck first discovered Bitcoin.

According to eyewitness accounts, he became enthusiastic and immediately adopted a philosophy that he summed up in two words: "Hodl" and "hold on".

These words became famous after a close relative of the king reported it during an informal exchange.

But it was in April 2019 that everything changed.

At a time when the world was still largely unaware of cryptocurrencies, Bhutan, via its sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holding & Investments (DHI), launched its first mining farms.

At the time, bitcoin was worth less than $5,000.

In the isolated valley of Gedu, a data center emerges, fed by the mighty Himalayan rivers.

Bhutan has almost inexhaustible hydroelectric power, which already accounts for 30% of its GDP. By using it to mine Bitcoin, they are turning water into wealth, while remaining environmentally friendly.

In 2023-2025, DHI is stepping up its mining efforts, thanks in particular to a strategic partnership with Bitdeer, and converting surplus hydroelectric power into digital wealth.

As a result, some 30,000 machines will be running day and night.

➥ Wages paid in Bitcoin to stop the exodus.

Despite the country's apology for happiness, over the past few years more than 13,000 young Bhutanese have fled to Australia or India.

A colossal figure when you consider that the country has a population of less than 800,000.

To stem the tide, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the government decided to play poker: sell $100 million worth of Bitcoin to finance a 50% pay rise for civil servants.

The result was immediate: resignations plummeted.

➥ Mindfulness City: a Buddhist Silicon Valley.

In Gelephu, near the Indian border, the king has launched the Mindfulness City project, a 2,500 km² special economic zone destined to become a hub for blockchain, AI and agritech companies.

A place where centuries-old monasteries rub shoulders with crypto start-ups.

Where people meditate in the morning, before coding smart contracts in the afternoon.

➥ In 2025, Bhutan even launched the world's first program where tourists can pay for everything in cryptocurrencies: visas, hotels, restaurants, souvenirs.

Thanks to a partnership with Binance Pay, over 1,000 merchants already accept crypto payments, from restaurants in Thimphou to host families in Punakha.

QR codes are flourishing on market stalls, alongside red chillies and traditional fabrics.

Rangrik Wangdi, a 68-year-old shopkeeper, proudly displays her Binance QR code, even though she admits she has "no idea" what blockchain is.

🗣️ Don't hesitate to share and share nostr:nprofile1qqsy67zzq5tc9cxnl6crf52s4hptdwhyaca5j7r8jwll535tdadedvcprpmhxue69uhhqun9d45h2mfwwpexjmtpdshxuet5qyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvg9fv89 if you've learned something.