GELEPHU, BHUTAN – [December 15th] – Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) and Cumberland DRW today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a multi-year strategic partnership to support Bhutan’s long-term vision for a sustainable, innovation-driven digital economy.
Guided by the vision of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the partnership supports the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a new economic hub designed to attract global talent, advance technology responsibly, and catalyze inclusive economic growth aligned with Bhutan’s values.
Under the MoU, Bhutan and Cumberland DRW, a global leader in digital asset trading, intend to collaborate on the development of a modern digital asset ecosystem and the financial infrastructure required to support it. Areas of collaboration include next-generation digital asset frameworks, sustainable digital asset mining and AI compute, yield-generation opportunities related to Bhutan’s digital assets, and the development of scalable national stablecoin infrastructure. The partnership will also focus on talent development and the strengthening of institutional capabilities to support long-term resilience and economic diversification.
Leading the initiative in Bhutan, Green Digital Ltd, a Gelephu Mindfulness City entity, is a digital asset infrastructure company developing renewable-energy-powered computing facilities to support secure blockchain networks and advance Bhutan’s long-term sustainability and diversification goals.
The announcement builds on Bhutan’s established track record as a thoughtful and capable adopter of digital financial infrastructure. Bhutan is one of the world’s earliest sovereign miners of Bitcoin using renewable hydropower and today holds a significant national Bitcoin reserve accumulated through clean energy. In parallel, Bhutan has anchored its national digital identity system on public blockchain infrastructure, enabling nearly 800,000 citizens to securely verify their identities and access public services. Building on this foundation, Bhutan has integrated digital assets into GMC’s strategic reserves, enabled crypto-based payments across merchants and tourism services, and launched TER, a sovereign-backed digital token linked to physical gold. Together, these initiatives reflect a deliberate, long-term approach to innovation grounded in governance, sustainability, and real-world utility.
“By partnering with Cumberland, GDL is connecting Bhutan’s green, renewable-energy-driven infrastructure with world-class digital asset liquidity.” said Gelay Jamtsho, Chairman of Green Digital Ltd. “From Gelephu Mindfulness City, we are committed to building a responsible, well-governed digital asset hub that supports Bhutan’s broader sustainable development and diversification agenda.”
“Bhutan’s clarity of vision and emphasis on sustainable development make it a natural partner for responsible and forward-looking innovation,” said Donald R. Wilson, Founder of DRW. “We are honored to support Bhutan as it builds the foundations of a modern digital economy.”
About Cumberland DRW
Cumberland is the digital asset arm of DRW and a pioneer in the cryptoasset markets since 2014. Combining DRW’s decades of trading and technology leadership with purpose-built digital asset infrastructure, Cumberland provides deep, reliable liquidity and sophisticated execution solutions across global spot and derivatives markets. Institutions around the world rely on Cumberland for transparent market access, insight, and partnership as the digital asset ecosystem continues to evolve. Learn more at cumberland.io.
About Gelephu Mindfulness City
The Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region is a visionary initiative creating a world-class economic hub in southern Bhutan, centered on mindfulness, sustainability, and innovation. The SAR integrates traditional Bhutanese values with globally recognized legal frameworks, cutting-edge design and technology, while harnessing the Kingdom’s abundant renewable energy resources to serve as a global exemplar of holistic development.