Bhutan Integrates National Digital ID with Ethereum Blockchain
- Bhutan’s National Digital Identity platform will issue credentials via Ethereum by early 2026.
- The system was initially developed with Cardano developer IOG and uses W3C identity standards.
- Concerns arise over privacy risks of storing national IDs on public blockchains despite increased transparency.
- Bhutan is the fifth-largest holder of Bitcoin, with approximately $725 million in BTC holdings.
Bhutan has become the first country to anchor a live, population-scale identity system on a public blockchain network, integrating its digital ID platform with Ethereum. This transition allows citizens to verify attributes like age and residency without centralized databases, though it raises privacy concerns.
The move highlights Bhutan’s commitment to blockchain technology, as seen in its substantial Bitcoin holdings and recent initiatives to modernize tourism through crypto payments. (Source)
