Bhutan Launches Wild Cryptocurrency Digital Nomad Visa

There’s no income requirements. It’s the first of its kind. But will it be the last?

Photo by Gaurav Bagdi on Unsplash

Every once in a while, a new digital nomad visa comes out that entirely shatters the norm. From gifting discounts on gold purchases to offering special access to oceanfront property, certain nomad visas step out of the same-old, same-old box and introduce applicants to an entirely different opportunity.

This go-around, the eyebrow-raising visa comes from one of the most unexpected countries: Bhutan.

Bhutan, the small, Himalayan nation sandwiched between India and China, is known as the “happiest country on earth,” as the national philosophy is based on improving the mental, environmental, and cultural well-being of its citizens. While the nation’s self-created “Gross National Happiness” index is just as much international marketing as anything else, the country is a prized destination for many travelers. This is, in part, due to the extra costs associated with visiting Bhutan.

Unlike nearly every other country on the planet, Bhutan requires most visitors to pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), which is reinvested in the country to improve citizens’ daily lives. At $100 a day, this fee quickly adds up, resulting in…