Bhutan Partners With Sei Network to Secure the Fastest Layer-1 Blockchain

• Druk Holding and Investments Ltd (DHI), the sovereign wealth fund of Bhutan, has joined forces to launch a Sei blockchain validator.
• The implementation of the Sei validator will contribute to the creation of new digital innovation pathways in Bhutan, specifically in tokenization and financial technologies.

Bhutan has collaborated with the Sei Development Foundation to deploy a Sei blockchain validator in the Kingdom. This partnership will be implemented during the first quarter of 2026 and will strengthen the presence of the blockchain in Bhutan, which will support the digital transformation plan of the country in the future. This step follows recent moves by the Kingdom to develop an active presence in the cryptocurrency sector, such as holding considerable stakes in Bitcoin and Ethereum, as we have reported. At the same time, this initiative is supported by Sapien Capital, a firm that focuses on science and technology.

JUST IN: Kingdom of Bhutan is working with @Sei_FND and becoming a Sei validator.

Since 2019, Bhutan has been a global blockchain leader—its wealth fund DHI holds one of the largest national BTC reserves.

Now it’ll secure the fastest L1 and explore tokenization on Sei.

More↓ pic.twitter.com/DJzFIjBh4J

— Sei (@SeiNetwork) January 20, 2026

The introduction of a Sei validator will give Bhutan a chance to take a hands on control of the blockchain infrastructure, and allow the country to experiment with asset tokenization, digital payments, and the creation of new financial technologies. The collaboration also introduces additional validators in the Sei network across the world, and this contributes to the decentralization of the network and increases its security. The validator will be key in facilitating blockchain services in Bhutan and the adoption of the decentralized ledger technologies into its national infrastructure. Boosting Bhutan’s Blockchain Capacity and Digital Future The Sei validator in Bhutan is likely to open the door to several blockchain solutions in the country. Bhutan will look into the application of blockchain in asset tokenization, data monetization, and the creation of fintech tools that can be incorporated into the economy of the kingdom. By being a validator, Bhutan get an opportunity to operate its own blockchain networks and increase the technological capacity, which is crucial to its digital transformation strategy. This collaboration with Sei is especially notable, as the network is associated with rapid transactions at a low cost. To date, the Sei network has facilitated more than 4 billion transactions and now serves more than 80 million wallets. Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Bhutan, has long been engaged in digital assets, holding significant amounts of Bitcoin and Ethereum. Bhutan, as we earlier reported, has been tapping its cryptocurrency portfolio in the financial planning of its economic developments, and its partnership with Sei is a natural progression. The validator will also give Bhutan an interest in the creation of sovereign identity systems and digital business models, advancing the country’s vision to become a pioneer in the blockchain world. Moreover, as CNF detailed, Bhutan has already begun testing cryptocurrency payment systems in the tourism sector, where scanning a QR code instantly converts crypto into local currency.  SEI has declined by 14% over the past seven days. At press time, it was trading at $0.1074, a 1.06% decline, mirroring the broader crypto market, which is down by 2% to $3.01 trillion.