Bhutan has integrated Binance Pay into its national tourism payment system, merging its Gross National Happiness philosophy with cutting-edge digital finance.
Travelers can now explore Bhutan cash-free, paying for everything from temple donations to local meals seamlessly with stablecoins and other crypto via QR codes.
This guide offers a charming five-day itinerary around the locations of our top merchant picks across the enigmatic Buddhist kingdom.
In Bhutan, happiness isn’t just a feeling – it’s a national priority. Tucked away in the Eastern Himalayas, this remote Buddhist kingdom is world-renowned for pioneering Gross National Happiness (GNH), a development framework that weighs spiritual and emotional well-being alongside GDP. Now, Bhutan is taking that ethos to the next level, ushering in a new era of digital freedom with the integration of Binance Pay.
Earlier this year, Bhutan made history by launching the world’s first national crypto tourism payment system powered by cryptocurrency in collaboration with Binance Pay. This forward-thinking leap reflects a philosophical alignment between all stakeholders involved. Bhutan’s quest for equitable progress and environmental sustainability resonates deeply with Binance’s mission to democratize finance and unlock freedom of money through blockchain innovation.
From hydropower-backed sovereign crypto mining to crypto QR code payments for tourists, Bhutan is quickly becoming a case study of how crypto can mesh harmoniously with national policy.
Before we jump into our travel itinerary, it’s worth appreciating how Bhutan has been warming up to crypto behind the scenes for years. Back in 2019, the kingdom quietly began sovereign crypto mining, using its abundant hydroelectric power to mine bitcoin and other digital assets sustainably. This green energy surplus, flowing from Himalayan rivers, positions Bhutan as one of the world’s leaders of “clean” crypto mining.
Then came May 7, 2025, a historic moment when Binance Pay officially launched as the national crypto tourism payment rail across Bhutan. Binance Pay users travelling in Bhutan can now use over 100+ digital assets, including stablecoins, BNB, BTC, ETH, USDT, to make payments across a growing network of approved vendors.
Bhutan’s GNH philosophy rests on four key pillars: sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and good governance. While that might sound abstract, in practice it means that every national policy is scrutinized through the lens of well-being, fairness, and harmony.
Binance Pay slots in beautifully.
By empowering Binance users travelling in Bhutan to transact in a frictionless, decentralized manner, Binance Pay promotes financial inclusion. For a country that limits daily tourist visas to preserve its ecology and culture, crypto’s low-fee, secure infrastructure provides a nimble, borderless tool to serve both the public sector and private entrepreneurs.
And unlike traditional payment systems, crypto doesn’t tether Bhutan to any single currency or institution. It expands choice and sovereignty: values that matter deeply in a nation that has long guarded its independence and identity.So, we packed our digital wallets, scanned our first QR code at an espresso bar in Thimphu, and set off on a week-long crypto-powered exploration of the world’s happiest kingdom.
Here’s our travel guide on how to experience Bhutan, the Binance way.
Your journey begins in Thimphu, Bhutan’s serene capital nestled in a high-altitude valley ringed by pine forests. Here, traditional prayer flags flutter in the breeze while monks quietly march in ceremonial procession in crimson robes.
Start your morning at Tower Café, a cozy spot near Norzin Lam, where you can sip an espresso brewed with local beans and, yes, make your first Binance Pay purchase. The moment you scan the QR code and confirm your payment in BNB, you’ll realize how efficiently crypto has been woven into daily life here.
From there, take a short ride up the hill to the Buddha Dordenma Statue, a 54-meter-tall golden icon that gazes protectively over the valley. Snap panoramic shots of the city below, then visit the souvenir kiosk where everything from handcrafted prayer beads to incense can be bought with crypto, including BTC and ETH.
After taking panoramic photographs, clear your mental space to join a morning yoga session on the platform beneath the statue, where even the instructor accepts Binance Pay.
A magnificent yoga session against a mountain backdrop, paid for in cryptocurrency. Source: Binance.
Dinner is best enjoyed at Phangu, a hidden gem serving Southern Bhutanese thali – an aromatic platter of red rice, ema datshi (chilies and cheese), and nutty buckwheat pancakes. After scanning to pay with stablecoins such as USDC, don’t forget to ask for a warm serving of suja, traditional butter tea, to end the evening.
The drive to Punakha winds through cloud forests and past snow-capped ridges, revealing emerald rice terraces and blooming jacarandas along the way. This region once served as the ancient capital and still carries regal energy.
Your first stop is the Punakha Dzong, often called the “Palace of Great Bliss.” Built at the confluence of two rivers, it’s one of the most photogenic structures in Bhutan. Entry tickets are now payable via Binance Pay, making your visit not just visually enriching but financially frictionless.
The Bhutanese welcome cryptocurrency with smiles. Source: Binance.
Nearby, visit the Chimi Lhakhang, a quirky and sacred fertility temple that draws pilgrims from across Asia. There, you can light a butter lamp and make a donation – directly from your crypto wallet. It’s a surreal but very meaningful moment: using decentralized money to participate in centuries-old rituals.
Break for lunch at Café Dakini, perched above the serene Mo Chhu River. This woman-owned café not only serves hearty buckwheat noodles and fresh ginger lemonade, but also welcomes Binance Pay.
No trip to Bhutan is complete without a pilgrimage to Tiger’s Nest, the legendary cliffside monastery that seems to defy gravity. Your base will be Paro, a town rich with myths and apple orchards.
Begin your hike early and stop midway at the Taktshang Cafeteria, a popular pitstop with jaw-dropping views. There, you can refuel with yak cheese momos and butter tea, paid for effortlessly using your crypto wallet. Few things feel more futuristic than scanning a QR code in the middle of a sacred hike thousands of meters above sea level.
After descending and checking into your lodge, consider booking a herb-infused hot stone bath – a traditional Bhutanese spa experience where you soak in mineral-rich waters heated with fire-roasted river stones. Some lodges now offer QR-based crypto payment for wellness services too.
Before you leave Bhutan, don’t forget to tip your driver and guide using Binance Pay. Not only does this reduce the hassle of carrying cash or finding an ATM, but it ensures your payment lands instantly and securely in their wallet with no delays.
Paying for traditional clothing in cryptocurrency. Source: Binance.
Getting started is simple. Open your Binance app, tap Pay, and choose your crypto asset. Vendors display a Binance Pay QR code, and all it takes is a quick scan to complete your transaction. No foreign exchange conversions, no local SIM card needed – just a working internet connection and your Binance wallet.
Bhutan’s national tourism payment rollout now includes dozens of crypto-friendly merchants, from cafés and restaurants to hotels, wellness retreats, and cultural sites. The country is actively onboarding more businesses every week, so your crypto-powered journey will only get richer over time.
Recently, Binance invited a group of global crypto opinion leaders and content creators to tour Bhutan using Binance Pay, and the results were nothing short of magical. Led by Binance’s CEO Richard Teng, the group explored the best of Bhutan: from Paro’s misty pine forests to Thimphu’s vibrant art scene, all while transacting entirely in crypto.
Binance CEO Richard Teng and Bhutanese officials present their partnership to media and KOLs. Source: Binance.
Whether they were booking hotels, paying for traditional meals, or making temple donations, the group relied solely on Binance Pay. It was a live demonstration of what a crypto-native travel experience can feel like: seamless, connected, and aligned with local culture. Find out more about their experiences here.
Bhutan isn’t your average tourist destination, and that’s exactly the point. Here, you’re invited to travel slower, tread lighter, and think deeper. With Binance Pay now part of the journey, you can do all that while transacting in a way that honors both modern efficiency and ancient values.
So the next time you reach for your wallet in the clouds, remember: you’re part of a new chapter written on the intersection of technology, tradition, and happiness.
Binance Pay is a contactless, borderless, and secure crypto payment feature built into the Binance exchange, the largest centralized exchange with over 280M registered users globally. It allows users and merchants to pay, send and receive cryptocurrency payments globally without incurring gas fees. With a seamless user experience and support for a wide range of assets, Binance Pay brings the power of crypto into everyday transactions. Find out how to use Binance Pay here.
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