The Kingdom of Bhutan has officially announced that its national identity system for around 800,000 citizens will now operate on the Ethereum network, marking a major milestone in the adoption of blockchain technology by the public sector.

This move represents a migration from Polygon to Ethereum, aiming to enhance the security, decentralization, and transparency of the National Digital ID system. The project enables all Bhutanese citizens to verify their digital identities and access government services without having to undergo repeated verification processes.

According to Ethereum Foundation President Aya Miyaguchi, the integration with Ethereum has been completed, and full migration is expected to be finalized by the first quarter of 2026.

“It’s truly inspiring to see a nation committed to empowering its citizens with self-sovereign identity,” Miyaguchi wrote on platform X.
“This milestone is not only a national achievement but also a global step toward a more secure and open digital future.”

Collaboration Between the Bhutanese Government and the Crypto Community

The system’s launch was officially conducted alongside Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuk, and Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin.

Miyaguchi also highlighted the crucial roles of the GovTech Bhutan team and the Digital Identity Division, who collaborated with local crypto community contributors to ensure a smooth integration process compliant with international regulations such as GDPR and AML/KYC.

Through this approach, Bhutan not only strengthens its digital infrastructure but also demonstrates a replicable model for how blockchain can be effectively implemented in public governance.

From Hyperledger to Polygon to Ethereum

Bhutan has previously experimented with several digital identity solutions:

• 2023: Used Hyperledger Indy for the initial phase.
• 2024: Migrated to Polygon to reduce transaction costs.
• 2025: Transitioned to Ethereum, now serving as the core foundation of the country’s national ID system.

This migration reflects Bhutan’s evolving and maturing digital strategy, leveraging data immutability and Ethereum’s interoperability capabilities.

Global Implications: A Model for an Open Digital World

Bhutan’s move has been warmly welcomed by the global community as a pioneering example of blockchain adoption in the public sector.

Countries such as Brazil and Vietnam are also testing similar solutions, but Bhutan becomes the first nation to fully migrate its national ID system to the Ethereum mainnet.

With the support of zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology, the system allows identity verification without revealing personal data, striking a perfect balance between privacy and transparency.

Conclusion

Bhutan’s migration to Ethereum is more than just a technological project, it represents a paradigm shift toward a future where digital identity belongs fully to individuals, not institutions.

This bold step by the small Himalayan kingdom showcases how blockchain can be practically used to empower citizensand strengthen public trust in digital systems.