On September 7, 2021 El Salvador became the first country to formalize Bitcoin as legal tender after President Nayib Bukele shepherded the passage of the Bitcoin Law in June 2021. The legislation permits Bitcoin for payments of goods, services and taxes alongside the US dollar, and the government deployed the Chivo digital wallet with a $30 reward incentive and a network of ATMs to facilitate on‑chain and off‑chain transactions.
Data published by the Salvadoran Ministry of Finance indicates the state added 8 BTC in the last seven days, bringing its disclosed reserves to 6,291.18 Bitcoins, with a reported market valuation of over $690 million. This update reflects a continued government allocation to crypto assets within its foreign‑exchange reserve profile and should be interpreted as a balance‑sheet disclosure rather than guidance on future policy.