Hey, did you hear about El Salvador and bitcoin? They have $500 million worth now! That’s so much money!

Yeah, I read about that! But did you know Bhutan has even more? Their bitcoin stash is worth $1.1 billion.

What? Bhutan? Isn’t that a tiny country in the mountains? How did they get so much bitcoin?

Good question! Bhutan has a lot of hydroelectric power. They’ve been using it to mine bitcoin.

Oh, like those machines that solve puzzles to earn bitcoin, right? Mining?

Exactly! And because their electricity is renewable and cheap, it’s easier for them to mine profitably. That’s how they built up such a big stash.

But isn’t $1.1 billion huge for a country like Bhutan?

It is! Their bitcoin holdings are worth about one-third of their entire economy, or GDP. That’s massive compared to El Salvador, where bitcoin is just 1.5% of their GDP.

Whoa, that’s a big difference. But what about El Salvador? Why are people always talking about their bitcoin?

El Salvador was the first country to make bitcoin legal money. Their president, Nayib Bukele, started buying bitcoin in 2021. Now they’re using it to improve their economy.

Improve how?

For example, they’re using bitcoin to help pay off some of their debt. Plus, bitcoin’s price went up a lot recently, so their investments are worth more now.

That sounds smart. But didn’t people say bitcoin is risky for a country?

Yes, especially groups like the IMF. They worried that if bitcoin’s price dropped, it could hurt El Salvador’s economy. But so far, it seems to be working out for them.

This is so interesting. I didn’t know countries could use bitcoin like this. Do you think more will start doing it?

Maybe! Bhutan and El Salvador are showing that it’s possible. But it depends on things like resources, government plans, and how risky they want to be.

I think it’s cool. Imagine if every country had their own bitcoin stash!

That would definitely change the world of money! But for now, let’s keep an eye on these two. They’re leading the way.