Bhutan goes for gold, announces sovereign-backed RWA token

cointelegraphPublished on 2025-12-11Last updated on 2025-12-11

Abstract

Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) has announced the launch of TER, a sovereign gold-backed digital token. The token, issued on the Solana blockchain, is backed by physical gold deposits custodied by government-regulated DK Bank. Matrixdock serves as the technology partner for the tokenization process. This initiative is part of Bhutan's broader strategy to adopt blockchain technology, hedge against currency inflation, and modernize its economy. The country has been mining Bitcoin since 2019 and currently holds a significant crypto reserve. It has partnered with DK Bank and Binance Pay to enable crypto payments for tourism, with over 1,000 local businesses now accepting digital currencies.

Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a special administrative zone of Bhutan, announced on Wednesday that it is launching a sovereign gold-backed digital token called TER.

The physical gold deposits will be custodied by DK Bank, a digital asset bank regulated by the government of Bhutan, and issued on the Solana Blockchain network, according to GMC’s announcement.

Matrixdock, a real-world asset tokenization (RWA) platform, is the technology partner responsible for tokenizing the real-world asset on the blockchain.

An overview of the tokenized commodities sector, which is dominated by tokenized gold products. Source: RWA.XYZ

In the first phase, the tokens will be held in custody at the bank, with the exact rollout dates still unclear. “Purchasing TER tokens is structured to be as secure and familiar as acquiring physical gold from a major financial institution,” notes the announcement.

Cointelegraph reached out to DK Bank and representatives of GMC, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

The rollout of a sovereign-backed tokenized gold product is a hedge against currency inflation in the digital age and another step in the country’s blockchain adoption strategy, according to GMC’s announcement.

Related: Bhutan stakes $970K ETH via Figment in validator push

Bhutan gets ahead of the curve by adopting crypto and blockchain tech

The government of Bhutan has embraced cryptocurrency and blockchain technology as a way to modernize the country’s payment system and boost the tourism sector, with the goal of becoming a regional cryptocurrency hub.

Bhutan has been mining Bitcoin (BTC) since 2019 with hydroelectric power, and the country holds nearly 6,000 BTC, valued at over $540 million at the time of this writing, according to Arkham Intelligence.

In January, the GMC announced a digital asset reserve containing BTC, Ether (ETH), and BNB (BNB), which later expanded to include modest sums of memecoins and other altcoins.

Government of Bhutan’s crypto holdings. Source: Arkham Intelligence

Bhutan partnered with DK Bank and Binance Pay in May to provide tourists with a method to pay for hotels, tour guides and tickets using over 100 cryptocurrencies.

Over 1,000 businesses in Bhutan accept crypto payments through the partnership with Binance Pay and DK Bank.

Damcho Rinzin, the director of Bhutan’s Department of Tourism, said the adoption of crypto payments helps the country’s tourism industry, which has struggled due to a lack of robust payment infrastructure.

Magazine: Bitcoin to suffer if it can’t catch gold, XRP bulls back in the fight: Trade Secrets

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