The country’s digital wallet currently holds 6,209 BTC. The strategy involves purchasing one Bitcoin per day, as introduced in 2022.
Conditions under the loan agreement required the withdrawal of Bitcoin’s legal tender status and a halt in public acquisitions. However, El Salvador has continued its daily purchase policy since the IMF deal was publicly confirmed.
Decline in Cryptocurrency-Based Remittances
Cryptocurrency-based remittances to El Salvador have significantly decreased. According to figures from the Central Reserve Bank, digital asset transfers into Salvadoran wallets dropped by 44.5% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier.
In the first three months of the year, crypto remittances totalled USD 16 million, down from USD 28.3 million in Q1 2024. This represents a decline in market share from 1.08% to 0.52% of total remittances.
Interpretation and Compliance
In response to inquiries about continued Bitcoin purchases, IMF officials stated that El Salvador remains technically compliant with the agreement’s terms. A representative explained in an April 2025 briefing that the commitment applies specifically to the fiscal sector, suggesting that transactions conducted by entities outside the defined government scope may not violate the agreement.
Observers also note the interpretive flexibility of the IMF’s terms. Independent blockchain experts suggest that the structure of these purchases, potentially routed through non-governmental bodies or involving reclassified assets, might allow El Salvador to maintain compliance while growing its Bitcoin holdings.