Bhutan’s Gold-Backed Digital Token TER Launches on Solana Blockchain

Bhutan just dropped a golden bomb on the crypto space—and it's running on Solana.

The Himalayan kingdom's new digital token, TER, isn't another memecoin gamble. It's backed by physical gold, aiming to merge ancient store-of-value principles with blockchain's breakneck speed.

Why This Move Matters

Forget theoretical stablecoins. TER represents a tangible asset, a direct bridge between bullion in a vault and a digital token on a public ledger. It's sovereign wealth meets DeFi, a play that could attract both cautious institutional money and crypto natives looking for stability without exiting the ecosystem.

Solana's High-Speed Playground

Choosing Solana is a statement. The network's low fees and high throughput make TER viable for everything from micro-transactions to large-scale settlements—something traditional, slower chains struggle with. It positions the token not just as a digital gold certificate, but as a usable currency.

The Bigger Picture: A New Blueprint?

Bhutan's move isn't happening in a vacuum. It signals a growing trend of nations exploring asset-backed digital currencies to enhance monetary sovereignty, potentially bypassing the dollar-dominated system. It's a quiet, gilded challenge to the status quo.

Of course, Wall Street bankers will call it a gimmick—right up until it starts moving real volume and they have to explain to their clients what a 'tokenized real-world asset' actually is.

One thing's clear: the race to digitize value is heating up, and now there's a new, shiny player on the fastest track available.

Bhutan has introduced TER, a new gold-backed token built on the solana network, aiming to offer secure digital access to real gold. The project marks another major step in Bhutan’s growing digital strategy, driven by trust, transparency, and long-term value.

Bhutan Launches TER, Gold-Backed Token

According to the announcement issued on December 10, Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City confirmed the launch of TER, with the token set to go live on December 17 on the Solana blockchain. 

Each TER token is backed 1:1 by audited physical Gold held by DK Bank, the country’s first regulated digital bank. This gives the token real stability and reduces dependence on market swings.

Choosing Solana as the network allows TER to benefit from fast transactions, low fees, and full on-chain transparency, making TER easy to use and easy to verify. 

Gelephu Mindfulness City is launching TER, the world’s first sovereign-backed, physical gold-backed digital token, on Dec 17, 2025. Built on Solana, issued via DK Bank, and powered by Matrixdock tech, TER brings Bhutan’s “Treasure” on-chain with full transparency.… pic.twitter.com/HmJVGh4qPB

However, the launch of TER shows that Bhutan wants to connect traditional wealth, like gold, with new digital systems.

Why Bhutan Created TER?

Gelephu Mindfulness City, the authority behind the project, describes TER as a digital asset designed to align with Bhutan’s values of trust, sustainability, and responsible growth. Experts say TER may primarily be used within the City during the early phases.

However, Matrixdock, a licensed digital asset platform, handles the technical backbone. 

They provide the infrastructure that converts gold into blockchain-based digital tokens in a regulated, secure, and audited manner. 

History Of Bhutan’s Digital Journey

Bhutan is not a newcomer to the blockchain world. The country already mines Bitcoin using hydroelectric power and reportedly holds over 5,984 BTC ( worth around $538 million) in its national reserves. 

Along with this, Bhutan has partnered with services like Binance Pay to support digital payments. It has also invested in new blockchain technology and digital ID systems. 

All these steps have helped Bhutan build a strong and modern digital foundation before launching its new gold-backed token, TER.

Bhutan’s TER Joins a Growing Global Trend

Other countries are doing the same, like Kyrgyzstan, which launched a gold-backed token called USDKG worth over $50 million. This shows that nations now see blockchain as a modern way to use traditional assets like gold.

With TER, Bhutan wants to join this trend by creating a SAFE and clear digital token that is fully backed by real gold.