Bhutan Drops Polygon for Ethereum in National Digital ID Overhaul

TLDR:

• Bhutan becomes the first country to anchor its digital ID system directly on Ethereum’s blockchain network.
• The migration from Polygon to Ethereum aims to finish by early 2026, ensuring full credential migration.
• Ethereum Foundation’s Aya Miyaguchi and Vitalik Buterin attended the official launch ceremony in Bhutan.
• The project strengthens Bhutan’s strategy to build secure, self-sovereign identity solutions for its citizens.

Bhutan has taken a bold step into blockchain history. The country has moved its national digital identity system from Polygon to Ethereum, becoming the first nation to anchor such infrastructure on the world’s largest smart contract network. 

The migration aims to improve transparency, resilience, and citizen control of personal data. The launch was celebrated in Thimphu with representatives from the Ethereum Foundation, including Aya Miyaguchi and Vitalik Buterin. 

The project positions Bhutan at the forefront of blockchain-based public systems.

Ethereum Powers Bhutan’s Digital Identity System

Aya Miyaguchi, Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation, shared the news on X, stating that the launch marked a “historic milestone” for the nation. She attended the event alongside Vitalik Buterin, where Bhutan’s Royal Family and government officials commemorated the transition.

In her statement, Miyaguchi said Bhutan’s vision aligned with Ethereum’s core philosophy — building a digital future rooted in strong foundational values. She first visited Bhutan in 2024 and described the move as an effort to empower citizens through self-sovereign identity systems.

The new Ethereum-based system is now live and operational. According to the update, all credentials under Bhutan’s National Digital Identity (NDI) initiative will be fully migrated to Ethereum by the first quarter of 2026.

Bhutan’s GovTech and NDI teams collaborated with the ETH community to complete the integration. Miyaguchi credited contributors including Austin Griffith, Shiv Bhonde, and others for their work behind the scenes.

A New Milestone for Blockchain Adoption

The switch from Polygon to Ethereum signals Bhutan’s preference for a more decentralized and globally recognized blockchain network. Ethereum’s established security and developer ecosystem make it a natural fit for national-level projects requiring transparency and scalability.

Miyaguchi described the event as meaningful, coinciding with Ethereum’s tenth anniversary,  a moment that, according to her, underscored how far blockchain technology has come from concept to real-world use.

The project, which forms part of Bhutan’s digital transformation strategy, could serve as a model for other governments exploring blockchain-backed identity systems. As the system scales, Bhutan’s citizens will gain verifiable digital credentials anchored directly on Ethereum.

The transition marks another chapter in Bhutan’s long-term goal to fuse innovation with its values of privacy, trust, and national unity.

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