The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) and Ceffu, a global institutional-grade digital asset custody platform, have officially announced a strategic partnership to develop Bhutan’s premier digital asset infrastructure. This collaboration, finalized on February 2, 2026, represents a significant shift for the Kingdom as it moves from high-level policy planning toward tangible, on-the-ground implementation. As part of the agreement, Ceffu will establish a dedicated local entity within the GMC Special Administrative Region, creating a physical presence that includes on-site operations and a commitment to local hiring. This move is designed to anchor institutional-grade custody services and operational banking access within Bhutan, providing the secure foundation necessary for global financial institutions to interact with the country’s emerging digital economy.
This partnership is a cornerstone of the broader vision for Gelephu Mindfulness City, which aims to leverage Bhutan’s abundant renewable energy and unique regulatory environment to become a global hub for innovation and sustainability. By integrating Ceffu’s technical expertise in multi-party computation (MPC) technology and institutional-grade security with GMC’s forward-thinking regulatory framework, the duo intends to attract high-quality digital asset firms and global talent to the region. Jigdrel Singay, a Board Director at GMC, emphasized that the initiative is guided by long-term national responsibility rather than short-term market trends, focusing on building “trusted foundations first.” This approach aligns with Bhutan’s recent history of sustainable Bitcoin mining and its recent pledge of 10,000 BTC to support the city’s long-term development.
Beyond mere infrastructure, the collaboration is set to drive real economic participation and skills development for the Bhutanese workforce. By establishing local operations, Ceffu and GMC are creating a pathway for talent upskilling in high-tech sectors like blockchain management and digital finance. This development complements other national milestones, such as the launch of the gold-backed sovereign digital token (TER) and the migration of Bhutan’s national digital identity system to a public blockchain. As the regulatory landscape for digital assets matures, this partnership serves as a signal to the international community that Bhutan is positioning itself as a credible, well-governed jurisdiction where institutional-grade digital asset innovation can thrive in harmony with traditional values.
