El Salvador’s Four-Year Bitcoin Experiment May Continue With $700M BTC Reserve Despite IMF-Led Policy Rollbacks

• 6,313 BTC still held by government (≈ $700M)

• IMF agreement removed legal tender status and paused public BTC purchases

• New laws enable Bitcoin investment banks and continue education programs

El Salvador Bitcoin anniversary: 6,313 BTC reserve remains intact; read the latest policy shift and what it means for national crypto adoption.

What is El Salvador’s current Bitcoin position?

El Salvador’s Bitcoin position is that the state continues to hold 6,313 BTC (about $700 million) while scaling back national-level policies after an IMF agreement. The country retains its BTC reserves but has repealed legal tender status and halted further public BTC purchases.

How did the anniversary announcements summarize progress?

The Bitcoin Office reported educational milestones — 80,000 public servants certified — plus two regulatory moves: an Investment Banking Law for BTC banks and a Digital Asset Issuance Law. Officials emphasized targeted investor frameworks and public programs pairing Bitcoin initiatives with AI-driven tools.

Why did El Salvador change course with Bitcoin?

Front-loaded fiscal and macro risks prompted a recalibration. Under an IMF agreement, lawmakers repealed Bitcoin’s legal tender status, pledged not to buy more BTC with public funds, and scaled back support for the Chivo wallet.

What do official reports and data show?

An IMF report noted no public BTC purchases since December 2024 and confirmed reserves remain unchanged at 6,313 BTC. Government statements highlighted education and regulatory progress while acknowledging the need to align with international fiscal frameworks.

Bitcoin Day at El Salvador

Government posts on social channels (X) commemorated education wins and new regulatory steps, while emphasizing a $700 million reserve. The announcements framed the strategy around investor-focused legislation and public programs pairing Bitcoin and AI.

In support of the narrative, the country released images and program summaries underscoring training outcomes and banking law details.

Source: X

IMF deal forces a BTC rethink

The IMF required policy changes to secure program support, triggering repeal of legal tender status and a commitment to stop public BTC purchases. The Chivo wallet’s public backing was reduced as part of fiscal consolidation measures.

Source: IMF

How has the experiment evolved over four years?

From 2021 to 2025 the state built a BTC reserve, passed pioneering laws, and delivered mass training. Over time, fiscal realities and international oversight produced policy moderation while keeping core BTC holdings intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much Bitcoin does El Salvador hold now?

El Salvador currently reports 6,313 BTC in state reserves, valued at roughly $700 million at recent market prices. Officials state no new purchases since December 2024.

Why did El Salvador repeal Bitcoin’s legal tender status?

The repeal followed an IMF agreement that conditioned financial support on reduced fiscal and macroeconomic risk. Policymakers agreed to scale back public BTC purchases and related fiscal measures.

Will education and banking laws continue?

Yes. The government emphasized ongoing education programs and newly enacted laws to allow Bitcoin investment banks targeted at sophisticated investors.

Key Takeaways

• Reserves intact: Government reports 6,313 BTC (~$700M) and no new purchases since Dec 2024.
• Policy shift: Legal tender status repealed; IMF agreement required fiscal rollback.
• Targeted continuation: Education programs and investor-focused BTC banks proceed amid scaled-back public subsidies.

Conclusion

El Salvador’s Bitcoin anniversary confirms a transition from pioneering experiment to pragmatic management. The state retains a significant BTC reserve while aligning policy with IMF conditions and focusing on investor-grade legislation and education. Watch reserves, regulatory changes, and program outcomes for the next phase.