Philippines, Indonesia Tipped As Next Bitcoin Nation-States By Samson Mow

JAN3, the digital infrastructure company founded by Samson Mow in 2022 which focuses on accelerating hyperbitcoinization by providing tools for BTC adoption, stirred fresh debate on sovereign Bitcoin adoption by sharing a bold statement on X: Bitcoin adoption among nation-states is accelerating. Samson Mow explains how Bhutan leads the way, how JAN3 has shaped Bitcoin strategies worldwide, and why the race is heating up after Trump’s executive order. The question is: who’s next?”

In an attached video, Mow—who has long advocated for Bitcoin’s potential to spur economic growth—emphasizes Bhutan’s success as a prime example for countries with unexploited energy resources. According to him, the Philippines and Indonesia could be next in line to harness BTC mining as a nation-building tool, particularly by leveraging geothermal energy reserves.

Mow underscores Bhutan’s journey from “a very poor country to the highest Bitcoin per capita country in the world.” He remarked: “Bitcoin can transform a country very clearly, and it can just lift it out of poverty and monetize stranded or wasted energy.

By using BTC proceeds, Bhutan has reportedly begun financing significant infrastructure, including constructing an airport—a striking development for a country that once lacked the funds for such projects. Mow positions this as a powerful demonstration of how mining can turn underused or “stranded” energy into a national revenue stream.

Philippines And Indonesia As Next Bitcoin Adopters

Citing the example of Bhutan as a catalyst, Mow suggests that other resource-rich countries may replicate this model. Specifically, he points to the Philippines and Indonesia—both known for their untapped geothermal capacity—as “prime candidates” for state-level BTC adoption. “I believe there’s a big opportunity for the Philippines and Indonesia to monetize their stranded energy, that geothermal potential,” he notes.

Mow’s reasoning is straightforward: if Bhutan can direct mining revenue toward infrastructure projects, then other nations with large geothermal reserves might do the same. Rather than letting surplus or hard-to-access energy go to waste, countries can redirect these resources into mining operations, funneling any profits into roads, hospitals, airports, or other development goals.

One factor Mow highlights is the influence of the executive order signed by US President Donald Trump for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which he believes has prompted various governments to reassess their approaches to BTC. This order, per Mow, has “kind of lit a fire” under international policymakers who worry about the US potentially moving first.

Mow explains that, at JAN3, discussions with governments have intensified in the last two years, but there were setbacks due to events like the FTX collapse, which tarnished Bitcoin’s reputation despite being a broader “crypto” failure. With the US pushing forward through executive action, Mow says certain government entities that once planned to move on Bitcoin adoption in later years (e.g., 2027) are now shifting timelines up in an attempt to front-run—or at least keep pace with—the United States.

However, while some governments appear keen to follow Bhutan’s model, Mow warns that policymaking is inherently cumbersome. Legislative changes often require multiple rounds of internal approvals, public consultations, and political buy-in. “The timeframe, the time available to implement something is not much because governments move slowly,” Mow says.

He points out that any new regulatory or policy framework can take months or even years to materialize—by which time technological or market dynamics may have changed. As a result, countries hoping to capitalize on the Bitcoin mining opportunity face a shrinking window if they aim to outpace major economic powers like the United States.

“It’s not until someone actually goes and does it that it kind of clicks in their heads,” Mow emphasizes, reinforcing the notion that Bhutan’s success might spur real momentum for similar initiatives in Southeast Asia. Whether the Philippines and Indonesia indeed join the ranks of Bitcoin-enabled nation-states remains to be seen.

However, it is important to note that Mow has been actively involved in discussions regarding Bitcoin adoption in Indonesia. Alongside Governor Ridwan Kamil of West Java, Mow has participated in events like Bitcoin 2023, where they discussed the strategic implications of integrating Bitcoin into Indonesia’s economic landscape.

At press time, BTC traded at $87,282.