Crypto in Balkans: Introduction

Before I start writing about the cryptocurrency situation in Balkans, and more specifically about my country, Bosnia and Herzegovina (abbrev Bosnia or BIH), I think I should at least give you a tour of the area, at least through my eyes.

Bosnia is a small country with an area of around 51 sq km, shaped like an oxen head, with a population of roughly 4 million. It sits somewhat in the middle of the former republic of Yugoslavia, which has now dissolved into 6(or 7 if you count Kosovo) small countries, most of which were independent countries even before the Yugoslavia was formed. It is a very diverse country, especially if you account for it's size, with numerous geographical areas sporting complete ethnic, cultural and religious diversity. Biggest religious group ( roughly 40 %) is Muslim, followed by Orthodox (roughly 30%) and Catholic (20%). It used to have a healthy Jewish community before the war as well, but it is hard to say how many have stayed. Bosnia also has a huge diaspora, roughly around 3 million people live abroad and have dual citizenship. Around 99 % of population is Caucasian, so racism isn't an issue :) Most people from Asia and Africa who want to come to Europe go around us due to, well, us being us mostly. There is a strong Ottoman and German influence in the bigger cities in the country, being occupied by Turks for roughly 400 years, and by Austrians, more recently, for around 40.

We have a beautiful country full of mountains, lakes, rivers and forests, making life easy for it's inhabitants, and evolving us into, well, lazy, bickering baboons who didn't have to conquer and adapt to the environment the way Scandinavians or Arabs had to, so instead they found trouble in gossiping and taunting their neighbors. Even the wildlife is quite friendly here, with shy black bears being the worst threat the nature could muster against the unyielding people of Bosnia! Of course, even they were brought to the edge of extinction, boredom makes you shoot all kinds of stuff.

At this point, you must ask yourself, if the place is so great then why do so many people live abroad?! The answer, my friends, is : they are fleeing from other people that inhabit Bosnia! And not necessarily people that are of different religion or ethnicity. Naturally, when they come to another country, 90 % of Bosnians clump up into small communities consisted of former Yugoslavian countries, barely learn the native language and complain how horrible life is in the X country, but they never leave. Except leaving, they come back to Bosnia once a year and show off all the money they have made by working in X country, complaining how bad the life is there. That is one thing common to all people from this part of the world, everything else is as diverse as it gets.

With all that said, if you have time, come and visit us, everything is cheap, and if you have a good guide you will have a great time. Nobody parties quite like people of Balkans, and even in Balkan, Bosnia is specific. How this all fits into my cryptoagenda? You will find out more in the next chapter of:

CRYPTO IN BALKANS!!!!