**News Flash: Bhutan's Bitcoin Holdings Surpass El Salvador's**

Bhutan has emerged as a significant Bitcoin holder, surpassing El Salvador. Onchain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence revealed that Bhutan holds 13,029 BTC, valued at around $758 million. These holdings stem from Bitcoin mining operations managed by Druk Holdings (DHI), Bhutan's investment arm.

Arkham also noted that DHI possesses 656 ETH, worth about $1.5 million, along with smaller amounts of BNB and Polygon (MATIC). Bhutan's BTC holdings represent nearly a quarter of its projected $3 billion GDP for 2024.

Bhutan began hydroelectric-powered mining in April 2019 when Bitcoin was priced at $5,000. In May 2023, DHI partnered with Bitdeer to enhance carbon-neutral mining operations, aiming to boost capacity to 600MW by mid-2025.

In comparison, El Salvador started acquiring Bitcoin in September 2021 and currently holds 5,875 BTC, valued at $331 million. Despite using geothermal volcanic energy for mining, El Salvador's holdings are significantly lower than Bhutan's.

Bhutan, with a population of 790,000, contrasts with El Salvador's 6.3 million residents. Cointelegraph reached out to DHI for more details but received no immediate response.