Bhutan moves $34.5M in Bitcoin to Binance as BTC slips below $65K

According to Arkham’s on-chain analysis the Royal Government of Bhutan sent 533 Bitcoin [BTC], worth $34.5 million, to Binance [BNB] on the 17th of June.

The largest individual transfer involved 227.194 BTC ($14.7 million), while another moved 48.228 BTC, worth $3.1 million. The same deposit address was also used for a number of smaller transactions, from fractions of a Bitcoin to slightly more than two BTC.

Nature of transfer and total Bitcoin holdings

This indicates that several batches of transfers were made from a wallet identified as being owned by Druk Holding & Investments, the state investment arm of Bhutan. 

Additionally, in May, Bhutan sent 90 Bitcoin, valued at $7 million, to a SegWit address as previously reported by AMBCrypto. 

With all these transfers, Bhutan has 1,749.96 BTC left in its Bitcoin balance. This is about 11,250 BTC less than the peak of 13,000 BTC in October 2024. In total the governemnt wallet is worth $113.7 million, which also includes $1,820 worth of 1.034 ETH. 

What does this transfer mean for the market?

Transfers from the government to exchanges may cause concerns about short-term price pressure and increased supply. But compared to the daily trading volume of Bitcoin, Bhutan’s 533 BTC move is comparatively small, which limits its direct impact.

Instead of a decline in confidence, these sales are frequently connected to treasury management or profit-taking. Similar actions by Germany, the U.S. government, or wallets connected to Mt. Gox have in the past created short-term volatility.

In those times too, the real market impact was less significant than anticipated.

However, if Bhutan keeps cutting back on its holdings investors might start to doubt Bhutan’s long-term commitment to Bitcoin as a strategic asset. 

Bitcoin dynamics and Bhutan’s ranking

This comes as Bitcoin was trading at $64,228.89 following a 1.96% decline over the previous day, and as the BTC ETF saw $82.2 million in  outflows.

In a market that is already soft, Bhutan’s Bitcoin sale added supply, which could increase short-term downside pressure. 

Although traders may consider the timing to be bearish, unless Bhutan or other significant holders continue to sell aggressively, the impact is probably only temporary. 

Finally, according to data from Bitcoin Treasuries, Bhutan is the seventh-largest nation-state that owns Bitcoin, after the United States (328.372 BTC), China (190,000 BTC), the United Kingdom (61,245 BTC), Ukraine (46,351 BTC), El Salvador (7,649 BTC), and the United Arab Emirates (6,420 BTC).

Final Summary

• Bhutan’s Bitcoin stash now holds 1,749.96 BTC, which is about 11,250 BTC less than the peak of 13,000 BTC in October 2024.
• With bearish Bitcoin sentiment and ETF facing outflows, the Bhutan sell off may trigger short-term sell-off and FUD.