Bhutan Moves National ID System to Ethereum Blockchain

The South Asian nation of Bhutan has completed the integration of its national identity system with the Ethereum blockchain, establishing itself as the global pioneer in sovereign blockchain identity management. The implementation, which was celebrated at a launch ceremony attended by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation President Aya Miyaguchi alongside Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuk, represents a significant milestone in governmental adoption of blockchain technology. Miyaguchi described the move as “deeply inspiring to see a nation commit to empowering its citizens with self-sovereign identity,” emphasizing the project’s groundbreaking nature in her social media announcement.

This strategic shift from Polygon to Ethereum leverages the network’s inherent immutability and decentralization features, providing Bhutan’s citizens with unprecedented control over their personal identity data. The migration addresses critical concerns around data security and citizen privacy while establishing a robust framework for digital service delivery. For a nation of approximately 800,000 people, this implementation demonstrates how blockchain technology can scale to meet national-level identity management requirements while maintaining the core principles of self-sovereignty and user control.

The technical integration with Ethereum has been fully completed, while the comprehensive migration of all resident credentials from the previous Polygon-based system is projected to conclude by the first quarter of 2026. This phased approach ensures minimal disruption to existing government services while allowing for thorough testing and validation of the new Ethereum-based infrastructure. The extended timeline reflects the complexity of migrating sensitive citizen data while maintaining the highest standards of security and reliability.

The decision to transition from Polygon to Ethereum represents a strategic upgrade in the nation’s digital infrastructure, prioritizing the enhanced security and decentralization capabilities of the Ethereum network. This migration underscores Bhutan’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge technology solutions that prioritize citizen empowerment and data sovereignty. The move positions Bhutan as a forward-thinking nation in the global digital landscape, potentially setting a precedent for other countries considering similar blockchain implementations for national identity systems.

The Ethereum-based self-sovereign identity system will enable Bhutan’s residents to securely verify their identities and access a wide range of government services through a decentralized framework. This represents a fundamental shift from traditional centralized identity management systems, giving citizens direct control over their personal data while reducing administrative overhead and potential points of failure. The implementation aligns with global trends toward digital governance while maintaining Bhutan’s unique cultural and philosophical values.

For financial services and economic development, this blockchain-based identity system could streamline processes ranging from banking and credit applications to social welfare distribution and business registration. The immutable nature of Ethereum’s blockchain provides a trustworthy foundation for identity verification, potentially reducing fraud and improving the efficiency of public service delivery. As Miyaguchi noted, this initiative represents a significant step toward citizen empowerment through technology, demonstrating how blockchain can serve public sector objectives beyond cryptocurrency applications.

The involvement of high-level leadership from both the Ethereum Foundation and Bhutan’s government underscores the strategic importance of this project. With Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuk personally endorsing the initiative, the program receives the political support necessary for successful implementation across all government sectors. This top-level commitment ensures that the migration will be comprehensive, affecting all aspects of citizen-government interaction and establishing a new standard for digital identity management in the public sector.