21.01.2026 ForkLog

The Sei Development Foundation has partnered with Bhutan’s sovereign fund, Druk Holding and Investments (DHI). The organisations have agreed to deploy a validator within the Sei network in the country.

The technical implementation will be handled by DHI InnoTech, the fund’s innovation division. The node is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2026.

The initiative aims to expand the national blockchain infrastructure. The parties plan to explore asset tokenization and test new economic models. The partnership will also cover data evaluation and DeSci sectors.

Sei’s Director of Science and Innovation, Eleanor Davis, stated that the collaboration will lay the groundwork for future government projects. She highlighted digital payments and identification systems as priority areas.

Additional support will be provided by the venture firm Sapien Capital.

Crypto Kingdom

DHI manages Bhutan’s strategic government investments. The fund is known for actively developing bitcoin mining using the country’s renewable hydropower.

Bhutan consistently implements distributed ledger technologies at the state level. Nearly 800,000 residents use an Ethereum-based digital ID system to access government services. Additionally, the state has introduced the TER token, backed by physical gold.

The kingdom ranks seventh globally among bitcoin-holding countries. The government owns 5,985 BTC (~$529 million), primarily acquired through mining.

Back in December 2025, GMC and market maker Cumberland DRW signed a memorandum of understanding. In the same month, the country allocated 10,000 BTC for the construction of a “mindfulness city.”