Bhutan’s Bold Frontier: Launches Gold-Stablecoin Backed Nomad Visa

The Kingdom of Bhutan has rolled out a digital nomad residence program, marking a sharp departure from its long-standing policy of tightly controlled tourism. All the visa holders can live and travel freely across the country, with no minimum income requirement or mandatory stay duration. 

According to the official website, the initiative, launched through the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project, allows remote workers, entrepreneurs, and professionals to obtain a 12-month renewable permit for $2,800 per year. Additionally, it is extendable up to 24 months. Envisioned as a hub blending mindfulness principles with green innovation near the Indian border, GMC has partnered with NomadClub to administer the visa. 

The offering involves a mandatory $10,000 deposit, which applicants must place in TER, a gold-backed digital token issued on the Solana blockchain. The deposits for TER token is handled through DK Bank, one of the country’s largest and regulated digital banks, and it is fully refundable upon departure. 

Officials frame the requirement as a way to integrate newcomers into GMC’s emerging financial ecosystem while funding sustainable development in the special administrative region.

The campaign arrives amid Bhutan’s broader push into digital assets. The Himalayan kingdom has mined Bitcoin using surplus hydropower for years, reportedly holding reserves valued around $700 million and pledging up to 10,000 Bitcoin (BTC) toward GMC’s long-term growth. It also anchors parts of its national digital identity system on Ethereum. 

The use of gold-backed TER stablecoin

Launched late 2025 as the world’s first sovereign gold-backed token on Solana, TER aims to bring transparency and real-world asset backing to digital finance. The token represents 0.01 grams of physical gold stored in secure vaults. 

“Rooted in Bhutan’s spirit of trust, integrity, and responsible finance, TER embodies the nation’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable innovation,” the official website notes. On-chain data shows that TER was created three months ago and it currently has a circulating supply of 7,848,806 tokens. 

Industry observers see the visa as a creative bootstrap for TER adoption and GMC’s ambitions, though some question whether the deposit model will attract mainstream remote workers or remain niche. 

Bhutan was once among the hardest places to visit long-term due to daily fees and guided tours. Now this move opens the kingdom to a new class of residents aligned with its Gross National Happiness philosophy.

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