Secret State-Owned Mining Farms Discovered in Bhutan

Satellite images captured by Planet Labs, Satellite Vu, and Google Earth have exposed the presence of four government-owned cryptocurrency mining enterprises in the Kingdom of Bhutan. These mining farms, concealed amidst dense forests and rugged landscapes, feature elongated rectangular hangars. Sources familiar with crypto investments in this small Southeast Asian nation informed several media outlets that these hangars house mining devices and data processing centers' cooling systems. They are powered by robust electrical lines and transformers, connecting the farms to local hydroelectric power stations.

One of the sites was discovered near the Dochula Pass, an area adorned with 108 memorial chortens, considered sacred and inviolable. Other farms are nestled in remote regions of Trongsa and Dagana.

Historical satellite image analysis indicates that construction commenced as early as 2020. However, Bhutan's official representatives have never disclosed the presence or scale of these state-owned mining farms, maintaining secrecy around their existence and whereabouts.

In August, Bitdeer, a company founded by the owner of Bitmain, announced the completion of its mining farm construction housing 23,000 ASIC miners in the Bhutanese town of Gedu.