Bhutan is transitioning its National Digital Identity (NDI) system from Polygon to Ethereum, marking a new milestone in the nation’s blockchain integration efforts.
According to the Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS), the country’s existing Polygon-based NDI platform has now been integrated with the Ethereum blockchain, with full migration expected by the first quarter of 2026. Jigme Tenzing, Secretary of the GovTech Agency, said the shift aims to enhance the system’s security. Bhutan, home to about 800,000 citizens, uses the NDI to securely store and share digital credentials for online services.
Ethereum Foundation President Aya Miyaguchi announced that Bhutan has become “the first nation to anchor its national digital identity system on Ethereum.” Miyaguchi and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin attended the launch ceremony in Bhutan, with Miyaguchi describing the transition as “a crucial step toward a more open and secure digital future.”
Bhutan’s blockchain ambitions extend beyond digital identity. The country has also gained attention for its Bitcoin mining activities and currently holds around 6,371 BTC, ranking as the world’s sixth-largest state holder after the U.S., China, the U.K., Ukraine, and the UAE.
