Sherab Lhamo

Wangdrak Dorji, 22, who recently won the Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) Hackathon said that he had more to offer.

His NFT featured an outline drawing of sitting Zhabdrung with a desho background.

Wangdrak said: “As you buy more from me, you will gradually see a mandala, with more layers and details. When someone buys this NFT for the first time he or she will only see Zhabdrung. Slowly, when they keep buying and compiling, it will unwrap like a gift.”

The idea he said, was to engage the NFT collectors.

The 16 participants of the hackathon, held on June 10, created an NFT based on the 18th-century Zhabdrung Phuensum Tshogpa Thangka.

NFTs are digital assets stored on the blockchain. Unlike cryptocurrencies that are fungible and interchangeable, NFTs are distinct and irreplaceable.

The top three NFTs will be promoted and incorporated into the museum’s NFT collection.

Trishan Sharma, the first runner up, created a 3D digital art of lhakang with full-sized thangka displayed inside, with palm trees near the lhakhang.

Tashi Wangchuk, the winner of third prize, designed a digital art of Zhabdrung with two dragons on the top corners of both sides.

Wangdrak Dorji  received Staycation at Postcard Dewa for two nights sponsored by Postcard Dewa; first runners up received DELL Laptop sponsored by Dheyma Global Ventures Pvt. Ltd.; and third prize winner received a Samsung mobile phone sponsored by Sangsel Eco Trade & Environmental services.

Another participant, Jigme Dorji Tobgyal, 19, created an NFT of Zhabdrung sitting on grass. He said that the idea of Zhabdrung sitting in nature was to show the connection of humanity with nature.

The hackathon was aimed at integrating Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage with cutting-edge blockchain technology to create Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) that can be appreciated worldwide.

Wangdrak Dorji said that he learnt about NFTs and the business side of cryptocurrency, specifically branding, through a hackathon.

The inspiration for his digital arts came from thangkas and religious paintings he did for his friends.

Chanel Lee, one of the trainers, said NFT technology could become a bridge between Bhutan’s artistic heritage and a global audience of collectors. She highlighted the potential of smart contracts, particularly innovative applications such as the winner’s dynamic NFT.

“This will definitely grab the attention of others creating new things in this space,” said Chanel. “By using NFTs to prove ownership of artwork and artefacts, we can ensure their origin and authenticity for centuries to come. As once something’s on the blockchain, it’s there forever and you cannot delete it. And that permanence aligns perfectly with Bhutan’s cultural values.”

An official from the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD) said the hackathon was part of Bhutan’s commitment to embracing digital transformation while safeguarding its cultural legacy.

The foundation for the unique collection of digital assets will be based on over 6,000 museum artefacts from different museums in the country, including National Museum of Bhutan in Paro, the Royal Heritage Museum in Trongsa, and the Textile Museum in Thimphu.