Bhutan Partners with 3iQ to Manage Bitcoin Reserves in Digital Hub Push
Digital asset manager 3iQ has won a mandate to oversee part of Bhutan's Bitcoin reserves allocated to Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), marking a significant step in the country's ambition to establish a world-class digital asset and financial services hub.
The partnership will see 3iQ manage a dedicated mandate backed by a portion of GMC's Bitcoin treasury, while also helping develop local expertise and transfer institutional knowledge. This builds on Bhutan's growing commitment to digital assets, with the country allocating up to 10,000 Bitcoin from its national holdings in late 2025 to support GMC's development.
For 3iQ, the agreement further strengthens its position as one of the leading institutional managers in the digital asset sector. For Bhutan, it represents another milestone in efforts to diversify the economy and attract international financial firms.
The partnership extends beyond managing Bitcoin, with Gelephu Mindfulness City aiming to create a next-generation digital asset ecosystem that combines institutional investment management with innovation, sustainability, and skills development. 3iQ will invest in local talent, support knowledge transfer, and help establish the foundations for a broader institutional asset management industry within GMC.
Bhutan's abundant renewable energy resources and focus on sustainable development are expected to play a central role in supporting GMC's vision, particularly as energy availability becomes an increasingly important consideration for digital asset businesses. Jigdrel Singay, Board Director of Gelephu Mindfulness City, said the collaboration is intended to lay the foundations for a much broader financial ecosystem.
The announcement marks one of several planned milestones in Bhutan's digital asset strategy, with additional initiatives expected to be unveiled over the coming months. Investors will be looking for further details on how Bhutan intends to deploy its Bitcoin reserves and whether additional institutional managers join GMC's ecosystem.