Bhutan Bets Big on Crypto Tourism—Will Yaks Accept Bitcoin?

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The Kingdom of Bhutan, also known as “that tiny Shangri-La wedged in the Himalayas where happiness is measured by the kilowatt,” is shaking things up with… cryptocurrency! 🤯 Forget gold, forget yak butter—now it’s all Satoshi and satchels, baby! Bhutan’s leaders want to attract the “tech-savvy” travelers, or as we used to call them, “people who don’t bring traveler’s checks.”

During Binance’s Crypto-Powered Tour in Bhutan (now with 50% fewer sherpas), Damcho Rinzin, the Director of Bhutan’s Department of Tourism, explained that their tourism industry couldn’t keep up because their payment system is about as up-to-date as a rotary phone.☎️

So, what’s the solution? Partner up! On May 7, Binance Pay teamed up with DK Bank to let people pay for, well, basically anything in Bhutan with crypto. DK Bank’s president Ugyen Tenzin boasted that nearly 1,000 local merchants had been onboarded to accept crypto, a number that sounds big until you realize the country’s population is also about 1,000. Coincidence? You decide.

Rinzin said that tourists called the old-fashioned bank wires “a thing of the past.” Next they’ll be complaining about having to use *cash*. He hopes this new digital flair will unlock Bhutan for a whole new set of backpackers, influencers, and day traders who just want quick, frictionless payments—and maybe a selfie with a dzong or two. 😎📸

We Accept Crypto: Come for the Temples, Stay for the Blockchain!

Rinzin insists that taking crypto is more than just convenient—it’s sending a “very strong message that Bhutan is very welcoming.” (Though let’s be honest, if you show up with a suitcase of cash, they’re probably not going to slam the door either.) 😏

Apparently, Bhutan is after travelers who “align” with the Kingdom’s “sustainable and mindful tourism vision.” Translation: We want you to spend money, but please recycle, meditate, and don’t feed the monks.

Rinzin humbly suggests they’d like 300,000 users a year. Sure, and my Aunt Sadie wants to date Brad Pitt! If they can lure just a sliver of Binance’s millions of users, the local yak population could be outnumbered. Instant payments, low fees, and maybe a side of momo dumplings. Everybody wins. 🍜

Plus, crypto payment fees are a steal compared to those “traditional” banks. Rinzin brags about how fast and cheap it is—almost as fast as your uncle running when he sees the dinner bill come. Wink wink.

“Digital inclusion!” Rinzin proclaimed, suggesting that not just tourism, but other industries too could thrive. Next up: Crypto yak herding. You saw it here first! 🐃🪙

Who Knew Yaks Were Early Bitcoin Adopters?

Meanwhile, Carissa Nimah, Bhutan’s Chief Marketing Officer for Tourism, joined the fanfare by telling everyone that Bhutan is “traditional and authentic” but also “focused and visionary.” Am I the only one who hears that and thinks of a monastery with WiFi?

She says letting people pay with crypto “opens Bhutan up to a new category of traveler”—you know, the kind whose wallets live online and never carry exact change.

And with major projects like the Gelephu Mindfulness City—imagine a peaceful retreat where every yoga mat comes with its own blockchain address—crypto is part of “the vision.” Mindfulness, but make it digital. 🧘‍♂️💻

Still, not everyone in Bhutan is pumped about this digital avalanche. Some merchants said they’re still waiting for the first customer to pay with crypto. (Maybe they’re still looking for the WiFi password?)

And one tour guide said he’d never recommend a “purely crypto” approach. He suggests tourists bring a mix: crypto, cash, credit cards, maybe even a few shiny beads—just in case! Because you never know in Bhutan: one moment you’re meditating with monks, the next you’re bartering with a yak. 🏔️🤑

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2025-07-07 14:20