DrukShift is a survey-based data analysis project that measures cryptocurrency readiness among Bhutanese adults. Developed as part of the BDS Internship 2026 at Bhutan Data Scientists Pvt. Ltd, the project answers one critical question — are people in Bhutan actually ready to adopt cryptocurrency?
The project analyzed 113 valid survey responses across urban, semi-urban, rural and overseas respondents. The data was cleaned using Python, visualized in Tableau with 12 interactive charts, aligned with Bhutan's GNH values, and published as a live interactive website on GitHub Pages.
"Crypto readiness in Bhutan is not just a technology question — it is a GNH question."
Bhutan is moving toward digital financial growth, but no one has clearly measured whether residents are actually ready to use cryptocurrency. Without this information, businesses and the government may invest in crypto solutions that people are not prepared or confident enough to use.
This project solves that by collecting real data and turning it into actionable business insights for four key stakeholders:
| Stakeholder | What They Need |
|---|---|
| Government & Policymakers | Real public data to build practical crypto regulations |
| Banks & Financial Institutions | Understand when and how to introduce crypto products |
| Small Business Owners | Know customer readiness before accepting crypto payments |
| Smart City Developers | Plan financially inclusive digital economies from day one |
A structured online survey was designed and distributed to Bhutanese adults aged 18 and above. The survey collected responses across 20 questions covering digital payment habits, crypto awareness, understanding, trust, security concerns, barriers and adoption willingness.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Responses Collected | 115 |
| Valid Responses Used | 113 — 2 removed (under 18 and missing age) |
| Distribution Method | Online survey |
| Geographic Coverage | Urban, Semi-Urban, Rural and Overseas |
| Dominant Group | Urban respondents — 67% of total |
Raw survey data was cleaned using Python and Pandas. The process included removing invalid responses, standardizing column names, converting Likert scale responses to numerical values, and carefully reversing scale directions where strongly agree represented a positive outcome.
A composite Readiness Score was calculated by combining four key survey questions with a maximum possible score of 16.
| Question | Measures | Max Score |
|---|---|---|
| Q13 Digital Familiarity | Education and digital access | 4 |
| Q15 Crypto Understanding | Knowledge of cryptocurrency | 4 |
| Q18 Feel Ready | Personal confidence level | 5 |
| Q19 Would Adopt Crypto | Willingness to adopt | 3 |
| Total | Overall Crypto Readiness | 16 |
The resulting average readiness score across all 113 respondents was 12.75 out of 16 — equivalent to approximately 80% readiness overall.
An interactive Tableau dashboard was built with 12+ visualizations covering all key dimensions of the survey data. The dashboard was published to Tableau Public and embedded on the DrukShift project website.
| Sheet Name | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Total Response | 113 total valid respondents |
| Age Group | Respondents by age group and area |
| Area Distribution by Map | Geographic spread of respondents |
| Payment Frequency | Digital payment frequency habits |
| Crypto Awareness | Percentage who have heard of crypto |
| Crypto Understanding | Level of crypto knowledge |
| Crypto Adoption | Willingness to adopt crypto |
| Top Barriers | Main barriers to adoption |
| Support Needed | What kind of help people need |
| Readiness Score by Area | Score by age group and area |
| Bhutan Readiness | How ready Bhutan is perceived to be |
| GNH Alignment | Readiness mapped to GNH domains |
All charts are published at: public.tableau.com/views/Tableaucryptoreadiness/Story1
GNH Alignment Story published at: public.tableau.com/views/Tableaucryptoreadiness/Story2
What makes this project uniquely Bhutanese is its alignment with Gross National Happiness values. While most countries measure crypto readiness through financial and technical indicators alone, this project maps readiness across six GNH domains — showing that cryptocurrency adoption is fundamentally a human and happiness question, not just a technology question.
"In Bhutan, any new technology must earn its place — not just by being innovative, but by being good for our people."
Since the survey was conducted once in 2026, age groups are used as a generational proxy for time. Younger age groups represent where Bhutan is going. Older age groups represent where it has come from. Together they tell a powerful story of how readiness evolves across generations.
| Age Group | Avg Readiness Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 13.27 / 16 | Above average — strong foundation |
| 25-34 | 13.74 / 16 | Highest score — peak readiness generation |
| 35-44 | 11.57 / 16 | Below average — needs targeted support |
| 45-54 | 11.18 / 16 | Below average — education gap growing |
| 55+ | 7.83 / 16 | Lowest score — urgent support needed |
High crypto awareness does not mean high crypto safety. The most dangerous situation is when someone is willing to adopt but does not understand the risks. The data identifies three groups most vulnerable to scams in Bhutan.
| Group | Why Vulnerable | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| 35-44 age group | Highest trust (4.1/5) AND lowest security concern (1.0/5) | HIGH |
| 55+ age group | High trust but very low awareness of scam risks | HIGH |
| Rural communities | Zero security concern scores across most age groups | MODERATE |
"Zero security concern does not mean safe — it means completely unaware. And unaware people are exactly who scammers target."
The project findings were published as a live interactive website using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The website is hosted on GitHub Pages and publicly accessible to anyone with the link.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Website URL | kinzang7066.github.io/Cryptocurrency_Readiness_In_Bhutan |
| Technology Used | HTML, CSS, JavaScript |
| Hosting Platform | GitHub Pages — free and publicly accessible |
| GNH Story Button | Opens dedicated GNH alignment story in full screen popup |
| Readiness Story Button | Opens readiness over time story in full screen popup |
| Solutions Section | 5 solution cards with interactive Tableau story button |
| Mobile Responsive | Fully optimized for phones and tablets |
| About Section | Personal introduction and project context |
Run targeted crypto literacy programs for 35-54 and 55+ age groups through workshops and community programs in local languages.
Expand reliable and affordable internet to rural and semi-urban areas before pushing crypto adoption. Connectivity is a prerequisite — not a luxury.
Launch dedicated scam awareness campaigns targeting 35-44 and 55+ who have high trust but low security awareness.
Create clear cryptocurrency regulations and consumer protection laws. Strong government leadership is the most powerful accelerator of adoption in Bhutan.
Encourage local shops and small businesses to accept crypto payments. When communities see crypto working safely in real life — adoption becomes natural.
Bhutan shows promising cryptocurrency readiness that aligns naturally with GNH values. With an average readiness score of 12.75 out of 16, Bhutan is approximately 80% ready for digital finance adoption. The foundation is strong — awareness is high, digital payment habits are growing, and willingness to adopt exists across all age groups.
The remaining 20% is not a technology gap — it is a human gap. It represents the education gap, the infrastructure gap, the trust gap and the vulnerability gap. These are not insurmountable problems — they are solvable ones. With the right investment in education, infrastructure, regulation and community adoption, Bhutan can lead the region in responsible and GNH-aligned cryptocurrency adoption.
"The question is no longer whether Bhutan is ready for crypto. The question is whether we are ready to make crypto ready for Bhutan."