- El Salvador keeps buying Bitcoin despite IMF’s $1.4B loan terms, aiming to diversify reserves and stabilize its dollar-dependent economy.
- IMF permits Bitcoin purchases if fiscal reforms advance; focus remains on tax transparency, debt control, and anti-corruption measures.
El Salvador continues to add Bitcoin to its financial reserves under President Nayib Bukele’s administration, despite economic challenges and a $1.4 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) finalized in 2024. The country’s Economy Minister, María Luisa Hayem, confirmed that Bitcoin remains a key part of its strategy to diversify national assets and stabilize the economy.
IMF Loan and Bitcoin Purchases
The IMF loan required El Salvador to implement fiscal reforms aimed at reducing public debt and improving financial transparency. Concerns arose that the government’s ongoing Bitcoin purchases might conflict with these terms. However, Hayem clarified that El Salvador has adhered to all IMF conditions, emphasizing that Bitcoin accumulation occurs alongside—not in place of—mandated reforms.
Rodrigo Valdés, an IMF representative, stated the agreement does not explicitly restrict cryptocurrency acquisitions. Instead, it prioritizes structural adjustments, such as strengthening tax collection and governance. Valdés noted compliance depends on meeting fiscal targets, not abandoning Bitcoin.
Government and Private Sector Involvement
Since adopting Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, El Salvador has purchased the cryptocurrency regularly. Hayem cited its role in attracting foreign investment and private-sector engagement. “Bitcoin is part of our plan to build financial resilience,” she told Bloomberg, adding that both government and private entities continue to acquire it.
“There is a commitment by President Bukele to continue accumulating assets as a way to do just that. […] Bitcoin continues to be an important project. […] We are seeing an accumulation of assets from both a government and private sector perspective,” Maria Luisa Hayem, El Salvador’s economy minister, told Bloomberg.
The IMF has not opposed this approach, provided reforms progress. Recent measures include stricter budget controls and anti-corruption efforts, which Valdés called “essential for long-term stability.”
Critics argue Bitcoin’s volatility poses risks to a debt-laden economy. In 2022, the cryptocurrency’s value dropped sharply, reducing the value of El Salvador’s holdings. Despite this, the government has not halted purchases, framing Bitcoin as a long-term hedge against inflation and dollar dependency.
The IMF acknowledges these risks but has shifted focus to monitoring fiscal discipline. Valdés reiterated that Bitcoin itself is not a violation unless it derails economic targets.
As of mid-2024, El Salvador holds approximately 2,800 Bitcoin, acquired at an average price of $45,000 per unit. Market fluctuations ensure the value of these reserves changes daily, underscoring the gamble inherent in its policy.
