Bhutan to Migrate National ID System from Polygon to ETH
Bhutan’s Ministry of Information and Communications confirmed that the National Digital Identity (NDI) system—used to verify and manage citizen identities—will transition from the Polygon blockchain to ETH. This move marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation, reflecting Bhutan’s growing reliance on blockchain technology for national governance. The migration is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026, with more than 800,000 citizens expected to be onboarded onto the upgraded network.
Enhancing security and scalability for national identity
According to the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, the integration between the NDI platform and ETH has already begun. The shift is designed to leverage ETH’s robust security architecture, wide developer ecosystem, and proven decentralization standards. Officials said the migration ensures stronger protection against cyber threats and greater interoperability with international identity frameworks.
Tshering Dorji, Secretary of the GovTech Agency, stated that the decision to migrate to ETH reflects Bhutan’s commitment to maintaining global best practices in digital governance. “This migration further strengthens the trust layer of Bhutan’s identity framework,” he said, emphasizing ETH’s maturity and credibility as a public blockchain. The move aligns with Bhutan’s vision to integrate blockchain-based identity systems into its wider e-governance and fintech ecosystem.
A phased transition from Polygon to ETH
Bhutan’s digital identity journey began in 2022 with an initial deployment on Hyperledger Indy, a permissioned blockchain designed for identity use cases. The system later migrated to Polygon in 2024 to improve transaction speeds and reduce costs. However, as the platform matured, government engineers recognized the need for greater security assurances and long-term scalability—factors that prompted the transition to ETH.
Reports from The Block and Cointelegraph confirm that production tests are already underway on ETH. By ahead 2026, the Bhutanese government plans to complete the migration of all resident credentials, enabling citizens to use the ETH-based NDI for accessing government services, digital banking, and cross-border verification. Officials also noted potential expansions into international partnerships for mutual recognition of digital identities.
The National Digital Identity initiative is central to Bhutan’s digital-first governance strategy. It allows citizens to securely verify their identity online, access public services, and sign digital documents using cryptographically secured credentials. The migration to ETH is expected to enhance trust and transparency while ensuring interoperability with global identity standards.
Bhutan’s decision positions the country among a growing number of nations adopting ETH for national-level digital infrastructure. The move also demonstrates confidence in ETH’s security and stability—key factors for handling sensitive identity data. As the migration progresses, Bhutan’s digital identity system could serve as a model for other countries exploring decentralized identity answers.
By leveraging ETH’s capabilities, Bhutan aims to build a secure, future-ready foundation for its citizens’ digital identities, marking a significant step forward in the nation’s blockchain-powered modernization efforts.
