Bhutan’s NFT Debut Raises Nu 860,000 in Cultural Showcase

Bhutan’s cultural landscape is embracing the digital era with a groundbreaking pilot NFT project that has seen promising early success. Launched on 4 June 2025 at the National Museum, the initiative offered eight culturally themed digital artworks—of which seven have already been sold.

Bhutan’s cultural landscape is embracing the digital era with a groundbreaking pilot NFT project that has seen promising early success. Launched on 4 June 2025 at the National Museum, the initiative offered eight culturally themed digital artworks—of which seven have already been sold. Within just 37 days, the project earned about 3.4 ethereum (ETH), translating to roughly Nu 860,000 in revenue.

Collaborative Effort Fuels a New Cultural Frontier

The project was spearheaded by the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD) in collaboration with the GovTech Agency and Druk Holding and Investments (DHI). It aimed to introduce Bhutanese culture to a global audience through non-fungible tokens, or NFTs—unique digital assets stored on a blockchain that verify ownership and authenticity. Despite operating with a comparatively modest marketing budget, the team behind the initiative expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

“Given that we did not have a large marketing budget like many international NFT sellers, selling seven out of eight NFTs in just 37 days was actually quite encouraging for us,” said one official from DHI.

Insight over Income in the Project’s First Phase

According to the same official, the pilot wasn’t designed purely for profit. Rather, it served as a strategic trial to gauge market interest and explore the potential of cultural NFTs. From this perspective, they consider the project a success. All seven artworks sold were purchased by international buyers. The only remaining piece is titled “The Victorious” by Wangdrak Dorji, priced at Nu. 144,044 (USD 1,695).

Revenue Model Rewards Artists and Institutions

The pilot introduced a detailed revenue-sharing structure to ensure fair benefit across all stakeholders. For initial sales, DCDD receives 50 percent, GovTech 20 percent, and DHI 30 percent of the revenue. Furthermore, 10 percent of the combined DCDD-GovTech share is set aside for the artists themselves.

Future resales also follow a structured distribution: original NFT owners keep 90 percent of the sale value, while the remaining 10 percent is split among the institutions. DCDD and GovTech will receive 80 percent of that share, DHI will receive 20 percent, and artists will again benefit from 10 percent of the DCDD-GovTech portion.

Cultural Perks Boost Global Appeal

Tshering Uden Penjor, Chief Curator at DCDD, shared that the collection’s appeal goes beyond digital possession. Buyers also receive tangible cultural perks such as a two-day waiver on Bhutan’s sustainable development fee, complimentary museum access for a year, guided tours, and invitations to exclusive cultural events.

“While the primary motivation for our buyers was the chance to contribute to preserving Bhutan’s culture and heritage and to support innovation, the inclusion of unique real-world utilities is a key differentiator and motivator for international purchasers,” she said.

She also noted that the “Zhabdrung Phunsum Tshogpa” collection was specifically chosen for these added benefits, which resonated strongly with buyers seeking not just digital ownership but genuine cultural engagement in Bhutan.

Next Steps—Expanding Bhutan’s Digital Heritage

Encouraged by the positive response, the partnering agencies now plan to expand the initiative. Future NFT collections will be based on curated artefacts from Bhutan’s three major museums: the National Museum in Paro, the Royal Heritage Museum in Trongsa, and the Textile Museum in Thimphu.

These upcoming collections will spotlight a variety of cultural treasures, including thangkas, ritual items, manuscripts, and textile artworks. According to Tshering Uden Penjor, the releases will be timed with national events or cultural observances, and the team intends to keep refining the experiential value of NFT ownership.

Laying the Foundations Through Innovation

The journey began with a hackathon held on 10 June 2024, where participants were invited to create NFTs inspired by the 18th-century “Zhabdrung Phuensum Tshogpa Thangka.” From this competition, eight winning pieces were selected to form the debut collection.

Tshering Uden Penjor remarked that the initiative underscores the museums’ mission to blend tradition with technology. “Through NFTs, DCDD aims to preserve cultural heritage in the digital realm while engaging youth, supporting local artists, and positioning the country as a cultural innovator in the global Web3 space,” she said.

She further emphasised that these digital assets don’t just archive Bhutan’s sacred imagery—they open fresh avenues for cultural connection, especially among younger generations and the global digital community.

Bhutanverse Experience Lays Groundwork for NFT Success

A DHI official also acknowledged the value of Bhutan’s earlier virtual foray into the Metaverse through “Bhutanverse.” This prior experience helped the agency build the technical know-how and infrastructure necessary for NFT development. “This milestone was made possible through the strong support of our board for innovative, research-driven initiatives,” the official said.