South Asian Correspondent

Tag: Gross National Happiness

  • How Gross National Happiness Fosters Peace and Stability in Bhutan

    How Gross National Happiness Fosters Peace and Stability in Bhutan

    Bhutan encounters significant challenges in adapting GNH principles due to climate change and globalisation, especially given its limited resources. GNH needs to evolve to address these contemporary issues and maintain peace and stability effectively.
    Bhutan encounters significant challenges in adapting GNH principles due to climate change and globalisation, especially given its limited resources. GNH needs to evolve to address these contemporary issues and maintain peace and stability effectively.

    Thimphu, August 25, 2025 — Bhutan’s distinctive development philosophy, Gross National Happiness (GNH), continues to draw global attention for its role in fostering peace and stability by placing citizen well-being at the heart of governance.

    Introduced in the 1970s by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, GNH rejects the narrow pursuit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and instead embraces a holistic framework rooted in four pillars: good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation. Together with nine domains and 33 indicators, this model balances material progress with spiritual and social well-being.

    The philosophy has enabled Bhutan to sustain harmony, reduce inequality, and strengthen community ties, ensuring that development does not come at the cost of culture or ecology. Experts note that this equilibrium has been a decisive factor in maintaining Bhutan’s long-standing peace and stability.

    “If we protect nature, nature protects us,” is a guiding ethos behind Bhutan’s policies, as reflected in its constitutional mandate to maintain at least 60% forest cover and its status as the world’s only carbon-negative country.

    The GNH framework also promotes participatory governance, decentralizing decision-making to local communities, and fostering transparency through institutions like the Anti-Corruption Commission. Free education, green energy projects, and sustainable tourism initiatives ensure that growth benefits citizens equitably, further strengthening social cohesion.

    Cultural identity, anchored in Bhutan’s festivals, attire, and Buddhist values, plays a central role in uniting the nation. This deep cultural grounding, combined with forward-looking policies, positions GNH as both a domestic stabilizer and a global model for alternative development.

    Internationally, Bhutan’s approach has influenced debates on well-being and sustainability, inspiring the United Nations to recognize happiness as a key component of human development.

    By harmonizing governance, culture, environment, and economy, Bhutan has shown that happiness-centered development can be a powerful foundation for peace and resilience — not only at home but as a guiding vision for the world.

  • Bhutan Embraces Bitcoin Mining with Green Energy

    Bhutan Embraces Bitcoin Mining with Green Energy

    Has Bhutan Been Quietly Mining Bitcoin Since 2017?
    Has Bhutan Been Quietly Mining Bitcoin Since 2017?

    Thimpu : Bhutan, the small Himalayan kingdom, has been quietly accumulating and mining Bitcoin since April 2019. The country of less than 800,000 people is leveraging its abundant hydroelectric power to power its Bitcoin mining operations. Known for its focus on “Gross National Happiness” and picturesque landscapes, Bhutan has found ways to harness its immense hydroelectric potential, which accounts for 30% of its gross domestic product.

    According to an exposé in local Bhutanese news and inquiries from Forbes, Bhutanese officials have confirmed that mining began when the price of Bitcoin was around $5,000 in April 2019. The price per Bitcoin has since soared to roughly $28,000 per coin at the time of writing. While the scale of Bhutan’s mining operations remains a mystery, some Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) employees have listed “crypto mining” as their tasks and skills on their LinkedIn profiles.

    Bhutan Secretly Pours Millions Into Bitcoin, Ether & Other Crypto
    Bhutan Secretly Pours Millions Into Bitcoin, Ether & Other Crypto

    It is worth noting that the state-owned holding company DHI has invested millions of dollars in cryptocurrency holdings, with the funds managed on behalf of its people. The government is reportedly exploring partnerships to expand its mining operations further. One such partnership is with Nasdaq-listed mining company Bitdeer to secure 100 megawatts of power for a Bitcoin mining data center in Bhutan. This partnership would increase Bitdeer’s mining capacity by about 12%.

    It is unclear why the government chose not to disclose this project to its citizens or international partners. However, Bhutan’s focus on green energy and sustainability makes it an ideal destination for mining Bitcoin. Bitcoin mining is the world’s cleanest industry, with more than 50% of its energy sources being renewable or clean energy. Due to cheap, abundant hydroelectric power, DHI reported that Bhutan is an ideal destination for mining Bitcoin.

    Bhutan adds to a long list of regions from East Africa to Scandinavia mining Bitcoin with hydropower, one of the cheapest clean energy sources. The country’s commitment to green energy and sustainability is commendable, and it sets an excellent example for other countries looking to adopt Bitcoin mining. With its vast hydroelectric potential, Bhutan has the potential to become a significant player in the Bitcoin mining industry.