BHUTANVERSE: The Sandbox-Powered Gateway to Bhutan's Metaverse

Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), the commercial arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan, unveiled "Bhutanverse" at the FAB23 Bhutan International Conference in Thimphu. Partnering with Smobler, a leading Metaverse architecture agency from Singapore, and The Sandbox, a renowned decentralised gaming virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, DHI is set to create an immersive and transformative digital experience with Bhutanverse.

—

Bhutanverse, nestled within The Sandbox, will be a virtual space offering global users an opportunity to engage with Bhutan's rich culture, history, and philosophy from anywhere in the world. This innovative initiative will incorporate unique Bhutanese motifs, art, and architecture, making it a gateway to the Kingdom for Web3 innovators, artists, developers, and architects.

Ujjwal Deep Dahal, CEO of Druk Holding and Investments, expressed the vision behind Bhutanverse, stating, "The Bhutanverse will foster cultural innovation and diversity, nurturing a vibrant community of international and Bhutanese Web3 enthusiasts.
"It will provide a platform for global audiences to explore Bhutan's cultural heritage while empowering Bhutan's digital communities to harness the potential of Web3 technologies."

Ujjwal Deep Dahal, CEO of Druk Holding and Investments
The Bhutanverse project aims to accomplish several key objectives:

Growing a Domestic Metaverse Community: By embracing the metaverse concept, Bhutanverse will cultivate a domestic community of metaverse enthusiasts, creators, and businesses, thus driving growth in the local metaverse ecosystem.
Bridging Global Metaverse and Web3 Communities: Bhutanverse will serve as a bridge between Bhutan's metaverse and the global Web3 communities, fostering collaboration and mutual growth.
A Virtual Lab for Innovation: With its metaverse technology, Bhutanverse will act as a virtual lab for students, entrepreneurs, and businesses to experiment and innovate.

The launch of Bhutanverse will be marked by an art gallery challenge, where artists and creators can submit digital artworks. This challenge aims to accelerate the growth of Bhutanverse and the broader metaverse ecosystem. Once launched, the virtual gallery will showcase a curated collection of artworks produced by talented Bhutanese artists.

Dahal emphasized the significance of Bhutanverse in propelling the nation's presence in the Web3 space, saying, "Bhutanverse signifies a major leap into the virtual world, creating new opportunities for young Bhutanese to leverage emerging Web3 technology and build innovative businesses and leisure experiences."
"With Bhutanverse, DHI will empower individuals, businesses, and creators to shape the future of digital experiences, foster innovation, and collaboration within the metaverse."
The Bhutanverse's growth will be a collaborative effort, with active participation from Bhutanese and global digital artists, students, and entrepreneurs. Loretta Chen, Co-Founder, and CEO of Smobler, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its value in promoting Bhutanese culture and providing economic opportunities for digital asset creation and ownership.

Sebastien Borget, Co-Founder, and COO of The Sandbox, emphasized the metaverse's borderless nature and its potential to empower Bhutanese creators on the global stage. Through true digital ownership, Bhutanverse aims to unlock new opportunities for Bhutanese artists, monetizing their talent and showcasing their unique cultural aspects to the world.

As the metaverse revolutionizes digital experiences and brings cultures closer together, Bhutanverse stands as an exemplar of a nation embracing innovation while preserving its rich cultural heritage.