Bhutan Transfers $25M BTC as Reserves Continue Drop

BTC0,47%
  • Bhutan moved 375 BTC, extending 2026 outflows with transfers linked to trading desks and potential liquidation.
  • Holdings drop sharply from past levels, confirming sustained reduction in Bitcoin reserves.
  • Strategy shifts from mining to sales, with proceeds funding infrastructure and government projects.

The Royal Government of Bhutan transferred about 375 Bitcoin worth $25.2 million on March 31, according to Arkham data, extending a steady series of outflows in 2026. The move involved state-linked wallets connected to prior transfers toward trading firms. These transactions come as Bhutan continues reducing holdings after years of large-scale accumulation through mining.

Transfers Linked to Trading Counterparts

According to Arkham, the latest transfer moved 374.9 BTC to an unlabeled address previously tied to flows toward Galaxy Digital. Analysts at Onchain Lens noted that earlier transactions from the same pathway reached institutional trading desks. This pattern has raised attention around potential liquidation activity.

Earlier in March, Bhutan transferred 973 BTC worth about $72 million over two days. Shortly after, it moved 519.7 BTC valued at $36.75 million to external wallets. Additionally, a 123.7 BTC transfer worth $8.5 million occurred on March 27.

These transactions pushed weekly outflows beyond 1,000 BTC. Notably, Arkham reported total 2026 movements exceeding $183 million. Net flows to unmarked wallets reached roughly $144.91 million during the same period.

Holdings Decline as Outflows Continue

Meanwhile, Bhutan’s Bitcoin reserves have declined significantly from previous levels. Arkham data shows holdings near 3,954 BTC, valued at about $263.9 million. This marks a sharp drop from roughly 13,000 BTC recorded in October 2024.

Separately, other estimates place holdings at 10,769 BTC, worth around $714 million. This reflects differences in tracked wallets and valuation timing. However, both datasets confirm a downward trend in reserves.

The reported decline also follows a 25% drop in valuation over the past three months. As a result, Bhutan’s share stands near 0.051% of total Bitcoin supply.

Mining Origins and Shifting Strategy

Bhutan initially built its Bitcoin reserves through mining operations launched in 2019. The program used surplus hydropower under Druk Holding and Investments. At one stage, this strategy contributed nearly 40% of the country’s GDP.

However, Arkham data suggests mining activity may have stopped around November 2024. No major inflows have been recorded since then. Instead, 2026 activity shows steady sales, often between $5 million and $10 million per batch.

According to available data, proceeds support infrastructure projects and government spending tied to Gelephu Mindfulness City.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

Bitcoin's BIP-361 Quantum Fix Splits Community Over Address Freezing

A proposed Bitcoin improvement to address quantum vulnerability has divided the cryptocurrency community over whether to freeze legacy addresses, including those attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto. The BIP-361 proposal, which went live on April 14, has sparked debate between prominent figures including

CryptoFrontier1h ago

Zonda Exchange Discloses 4,500 BTC Cold Wallet as Private Keys Remain Untransferred

Zonda, a Polish crypto exchange, revealed a cold wallet with 4,503 BTC amid a withdrawal crisis. CEO Przemysław Kral addressed fund misappropriation allegations and promised legal action against false claims, emphasizing that private keys were never transferred due to the former CEO's disappearance.

GateNews1h ago

Ben McKenzie Slams Bitcoin on Jon Stewart Show

Actor Ben McKenzie appeared on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart on Aug. 14 in a segment titled "The Other Side of Bitcoin: Crypto Corruption," where he delivered a sharp critique of Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency industry. McKenzie, known for his film and television work, has become a

CryptoFrontier1h ago

BTC edges up 0.46% in 15 minutes: institutional fund outflows and macro risk-off sentiment in sync drove the move

From 15:00 to 15:15 (UTC) on 2026-04-16, BTC logged a +0.46% return within 15 minutes. The price fluctuated in a range of 73,939.7 to 74,440.0 USDT, with an amplitude of 0.68%. During this time window, market attention increased, short-term volatility intensified, and fund-flow characteristics changed noticeably. The main driver of this deviation is the continued outflow of large amounts of capital from exchanges. According to on-chain data, in the past 24 hours the net flow was -14,408.84 BTC, mainly concentrated in large transfer ranges of more than $1 million (especially>$10M net outflow -12,987.03 BTC). This shows that institutions and large holders actively reduced their BTC holdings on exchanges, and short-term selling pressure was significantly lowered. Against the backdrop of persistently weak liquidity, with order book depth remaining at a low level for a long time, the price has become more sensitive to medium-sized buy orders—amplifying the impact of even modest inflows on spot market price action. In addition, macro conditions changed in parallel and produced a synchronized effect: easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East boosted overall market sentiment. International gold prices rose, global equity markets hit new highs, and the market re-evaluated the probability of the Federal Reserve cutting rates within the year, further increasing investor attention to safe-haven assets (including BTC). At the same time, on-chain data indicates that the “whale” trading activity during this phase is at an annual low (>$1M transfers fell to 1,485 transactions). With heavy market wait-and-see sentiment and limited short-term supply, BTC’s responsiveness to sudden buy-side capital was further enhanced. Investors should be reminded that current market liquidity is still fragile. Insufficient order book depth increases the market’s sensitivity to large capital movements, and short-term volatility may intensify. Going forward, focus on further shifts in on-chain large-fund flows, changes in price action as it breaks through support or resistance regions, and the risks and opportunities brought by related macro policies and geopolitical developments. Please continue to track key data and stay alert to any sudden shocks during the period of abnormal moves.

GateNews2h ago

Bitcoin Transactions Face 70-Page Tax Filing Burden Annually

According to Nicholas Anthony of the Cato Institute's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, spending Bitcoin on everyday purchases creates an unexpected tax compliance nightmare. The IRS treats Bitcoin as property, not currency, meaning every transaction—even a $5 coffee

CryptoFrontier3h ago

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana ETFs Record Positive Net Inflows on April 16

Gate News message, according to the April 16 update, Bitcoin ETFs recorded a 1-day net inflow of +2,855 BTC (+$209.95M) and a 7-day net inflow of +11,849 BTC (+$871.52M). Ethereum ETFs showed a 1-day net inflow of +15,477 ETH (+$35.44M) and a 7-day net inflow of +90,366 ETH (+$206.94M). Solana ETFs

GateNews3h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments