Bhutan Is Preparing To Start A Sei Blockchain Validator In Q1

• Bhutan is planning to launch a Sei validator in Q1 to help secure the network and vote on updates.
• The country is the fifth-largest national Bitcoin holder, with over 11,000 BTC worth roughly $1 billion.
• Its nationwide identity system on Ethereum allows 800,000 residents to control their own digital data.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is taking another big step into the crypto space, and reports now show that the country is planning to deploy a Sei validator in Q1 this year.

This move is part of a larger plan to lead the rest of the world in blockchain innovation.

Bhutan Joins Sei Validator Network

The new Sei validator will run through a partnership between the Sei Development Foundation and Druk Holding and Investments (DHI).

For context, DHI is the sovereign wealth fund that manages Bhutan’s national assets. This team-up was set to build better digital tools for the people of Bhutan and running a validator means the country will help check transactions and keep the network secure.

Phuntsho Namgay, the head of innovation at DHI says this is a huge step for the nation.

JUST IN: Kingdom of Bhutan is working with @Sei_FND and becoming a Sei validator.

Since 2019, Bhutan has been a global blockchain leader—its wealth fund DHI holds one of the largest national BTC reserves.

Now it’ll secure the fastest L1 and explore tokenization on Sei.

More↓ pic.twitter.com/DJzFIjBh4J

— Sei (@SeiNetwork) January 20, 2026

Interestingly, this initiative is part of a larger trend where entities and even entire countries take part in securing blockchains. For example, Deutsche Telekom and Google Cloud already run similar nodes.

Bhutan is now joining this group of tech-forward organizations, and by running a Sei validator, the kingdom wants to gain more control over its own digital space.

Expanding the Sei Validator Into Asset Tokenisation

Eleanor Davies, a lead at the foundation, mentioned that tokenisation is also part of the plan for Bhutan.

Tokenisation simply means turning real-world assets into blockchain tradeable tokens on a blockchain, and if successful, there could be new payment systems and personal ID tools.

Tokenisation would make it easier to trade valuable items like property, gold or carbon credits. And for Bhutan, this could mean that its economy becomes more efficient.

The country wants to find ways to value data and use it for the public good, and the move with Sei is the foundation for all this.

Bhutan has already shown it can handle complex tech projects, because most of its 800,000 residents already use a digital ID system. Notably, this system runs on the Ethereum network and gives citizens control over their information.

It is one of the first times a country has put its national identity framework on a public blockchain.

Bitcoin Mining and the Gelephu Mindfulness City

While the Sei validator is a new focus, Bitcoin is a major part of Bhutan’s strategy.

The country currently holds roughly 11,286 Bitcoin, which is worth more than $1 billion at current prices. Most of this wealth comes from mining operations powered by green hydroelectric energy.

Bhutan currently ranks as the fifth-largest holder of Bitcoin among governments worldwide. This means that only the United States, China, the United Kingdom and Ukraine hold more.

The king has also set a large portion of these funds aside for a special project, and up to 10,000 BTC will help build the Gelephu Mindfulness City in southern Bhutan.