As the global Bitcoin race heats up, one small nation is emerging as an unlikely heavyweight: Bhutan.
With a population of less than 900,000 people, the Himalayan kingdom now holds over 13,000 BTC, placing it among the top sovereign Bitcoin holders globally.
In fact, Bhutan has over 27 times more Bitcoin per capita than the United States.
That stat says a lot about how seriously the country takes digital assets—and why individual investors should start thinking the same way.
Most importantly, it underscores the increasing relevance of self-custody as Bitcoin matures from speculative asset to sovereign-grade reserve.
A Tiny Kingdom With Massive Bitcoin Exposure
Bhutan’s accumulation of Bitcoin began in 2019, not through purchases on exchanges, but by quietly mining BTC using its abundant hydropower.
This low-cost, renewable energy gives Bhutan a significant advantage: they’re able to mine Bitcoin at scale with minimal financial or environmental cost.
As of mid-2025, Bhutan’s Bitcoin holdings are valued at over $1.3 billion—equivalent to nearly 40% of the country’s annual GDP.
This marks a significant increase from September 2024, when their holdings were worth approximately $780 million.
For comparison, the U.S. government reportedly holds about 198,000 BTC. However, with a population exceeding 330 million, that amounts to just 0.0006 BTC per person.
In contrast, Bhutan’s per capita Bitcoin holdings stand at approximately 0.016 BTC—27 times greater.
The Bigger Lesson: The Importance of Bitcoin Custody
Bhutan’s approach highlights an important point: acquiring Bitcoin is only part of the process—safeguarding it is equally crucial.
While Bhutan likely uses secure institutional custody solutions or offline storage methods, many individual users still rely on centralized exchanges for holding their crypto. This can carry certain risks.
Past incidents—such as Mt. Gox and FTX—have demonstrated that when private keys are controlled by third parties, there is potential for loss due to fraud, insolvency, or regulatory actions.
Using a non-custodial wallet—whether a mobile app, hardware device, or multi-signature setup—allows users to maintain full control over their private keys and, consequently, their Bitcoin holdings.
Why Bhutan’s Strategy Has Takeaways for Individual Investors
Bhutan’s approach to Bitcoin isn’t just notable for its scale—it also reflects best practices that apply to individuals managing their own digital assets.
- Accumulate Gradually: Bhutan built its holdings over time through mining. For retail investors, this can translate to dollar-cost averaging or disciplined acquisition rather than speculative trading.
- Think Long-Term: The country treats Bitcoin as a long-term reserve, not a short-term play. Many individual holders use a similar mindset—viewing Bitcoin as a store of value over years, not weeks.
- Prioritize Security: Just as governments secure strategic reserves, individuals should store crypto in non-custodial wallets where they control the private keys. For those with significant holdings, even modest amounts, this is considered a basic security measure.
These principles—gradual accumulation, long-term outlook, and secure storage—are consistent with how many in the crypto space manage risk and build resilience.
Self-Custody Remains a Foundational Best Practice
Bhutan’s Bitcoin holdings illustrate a broader shift: digital assets are increasingly being treated as serious financial instruments, not speculative trends.
For individual users, that shift reinforces the importance of secure, self-managed storage.
Whether holding a few hundred dollars or a much larger amount, controlling your own wallet and private keys remains a foundational part of responsible Bitcoin ownership.
In a space where third-party risk can’t be ignored, custody decisions continue to matter—no matter the scale.
Which Crypto Wallets To Use?
As security breaches at centralized exchanges continue to rise, a significant number of users appear to be gravitating towards secure, self-custody solutions, a move aimed at maintaining full control of their private keys.
Best Wallet stands out as a major player in the self-custody crypto wallet space, all thanks to its no-KYC security design and groundbreaking trading features.
The Web3 app delivers complete user privacy as it does not require any KYC or government identification to create an account, make deposits and withdrawals, and trade cryptos. This makes it immune to the data breaches typically associated with centralized exchanges.
More so, Best Wallet’s self-custodial architecture lets users keep control over their funds, and with Fireblocks, there is maximum protection against phishing, malware, and drainer exploits that continue to spread across the crypto space.
In addition to its security-focused framework, Best Wallet is also turning heads for its cutting-edge trading features which include cross-chain swaps, fiat payments, staking, iGaming, and most notably, its presale aggregator, making it an ideal hub for everything crypto.
Amid broader market shift toward self-custody, Best Wallet is strategically positioned to deliver all the tools users need to capture maximum returns from the ongoing bull market.
This article has been provided by one of our commercial partners and does not reflect Cryptonomist’s opinion. Please be aware our commercial partners may use affiliate programs to generate revenues through the links on this article.
