Global blockchain analytics and artificial intelligence company Nansen has established an office in Bhutan, marking a significant step in the firm’s plans to develop a local workforce and deepen its engagement with the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).
The new office, located at the Bhutan Youth Development Fund’s Nazhoen Pelri Complex in Thimphu, was formally opened on Tuesday by Nansen Group Chief Executive Officer Alex Svanevik.
Operating across more than 30 countries, Nansen specialises in blockchain data and analytics as well as artificial intelligence. The company views its entry into Bhutan as part of a wider international expansion strategy, while positioning the country as a potential source of talent in emerging technology sectors.
Although Nansen ultimately intends to build its presence around GMC, the company has chosen Thimphu as its initial operational base while development of the new city progresses.
“The first step is to make sure that we have a local team. Obviously, not everything is ready in GMC yet, so we currently have our office here in Thimphu. However, over time, we hope to become one of the most desirable employers in Bhutan’s private sector,” Svanevik said.
The company has already recruited four Bhutanese employees, with plans to expand hiring across several areas of its operations.
Alongside the office opening, Nansen launched its AI Talent Programme, an initiative designed to identify and train Bhutanese professionals in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Three interns are currently participating in the programme at the Thimphu office. Depending on their progress and the company’s requirements, they could eventually be offered permanent positions.
Nansen said its longer-term objective is to develop specialised expertise within Bhutan while connecting local professionals with its international workforce.
Svanevik said recruitment would extend beyond the roles the company has already filled.
“The hope is that we will hire at least one of the people from the AI talent programme, maybe even all of them. Let’s see. But we are basically hiring in many different areas across the company. We have already recruited people in customer support, blockchain and compliance, and we will also be looking at more technical areas, such as data science, machine learning, AI and cybersecurity, among others,” he said.
Nansen’s establishment in Bhutan follows a strategic collaboration announced earlier this year between the company and Gelephu Mindfulness City.
The partnership envisages Nansen establishing an operational presence within GMC and contributing its expertise in blockchain analytics to the city’s emerging digital asset ecosystem.
A key objective of the collaboration is to support an ecosystem built around transparency, governance and institutional standards. Establishing analytics capabilities locally is also expected to improve understanding and monitoring of on-chain activity, allowing institutions and other participants to make more informed decisions in the digital asset space.
For GMC, the partnership forms part of a broader effort to attract international technology companies and expertise as the city develops its ambitions in areas including digital assets, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Nansen’s arrival also comes as Bhutan increases its engagement with technology-driven industries and explores how emerging sectors can contribute to employment, skills development and economic diversification.
While the company’s immediate footprint remains relatively small, its combination of local recruitment and specialised training represents an early attempt to create a pipeline of Bhutanese professionals capable of working in fields such as blockchain analytics, AI, machine learning, data science and cybersecurity.
The Thimphu operation is expected to serve as Nansen’s base in the country as it gradually develops its presence in GMC.
