Bhutan Migrates National Identity System to Ethereum

• Bhutan Adopts Ethereum for Self-Sovereign Identity
• Polygon migration will be completed by 2026
• Vitalik Buterin attends the launch

Bhutan has taken a significant step forward in its digital strategy by beginning the migration of its national identification system to the Ethereum blockchain. The move will allow approximately 800 citizens to validate their identities and access public services through a self-sovereign platform.

According to Ethereum Foundation President Aya Miyaguchi, the integration with the network is now complete, while the full transfer of resident credentials is expected to occur by the first quarter of 2026. The announcement was made during a ceremony attended by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuk.

"It's deeply inspiring to see a nation commit to empowering its citizens with self-sufficient identity," Miyaguchi wrote on X (formerly Twitter). She also highlighted that this is the first national implementation of self-sovereign identity technology using Ethereum. "This milestone represents not only a national achievement, but a global step toward a more open and secure digital future in the long term."

Ethereum 🤝 Bhutan

This is cool – Bhutan just integrated the BhutanNDI system with Ethereum.

Vitalik and Aya joined the ceremony with the Prime Minister and Crown Prince.

BhutanNDI is a private SSI system for verifiable credentials on-chain for anything citizen related 🇧🇹 pic.twitter.com/Lxi7vlGl43

— timour kosters (@timourxyz) October 13, 2025

The use of blockchain in identification systems has been considered one of the most robust applications of this technology. Transparency, immutability, and the use of zero-knowledge proofs are seen as effective tools for protecting privacy and strengthening the security of citizens' data.

Before adopting Ethereum, Bhutan had implemented its identity system on Polygon since August 2024 and previously used Hyperledger Indy. With this, the country reaches its third generation of blockchain-based digital identity technology. Other countries, such as Brazil and Vietnam, are also testing similar solutions in limited stages.

Miyaguchi emphasized that the integration's success was a direct result of the collaborative work of Bhutan's National Digital Identity and GovTech teams, as well as collaboration with local developers and members of the country's crypto community. The initiative positions Bhutan as a practical example of how blockchain can serve government and digital inclusion purposes.