On June 18, 2025, El Salvador added one more Bitcoin to its growing strategic reserve, continuing its bold cryptocurrency strategy under President Nayib Bukele. The National Bitcoin Office announced the purchase, bringing the nation’s total holdings to over 6,300 BTC, valued at approximately $650 million at current market prices.
Since adopting Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, El Salvador has maintained a daily purchase program, buying one BTC per day since November 2022. This latest acquisition underscores the country’s commitment to integrating cryptocurrency into its financial framework, despite a 2024 IMF agreement discouraging public-sector Bitcoin accumulation. The IMF’s $1.4 billion loan deal prompted adjustments, such as making Bitcoin acceptance voluntary for businesses, but El Salvador’s daily buys persist, reportedly compliant through flexible interpretations involving non-public entities.
Bukele’s strategy aims to foster economic independence and financial inclusion, leveraging Bitcoin’s potential to reduce remittance costs and attract tech investment. While the nation’s Bitcoin reserve has seen unrealized profits—estimated at over $300 million—critics argue adoption remains low, with most Salvadorans preferring U.S. dollars. Economists also highlight the social cost of diverting public funds to crypto amid poverty and food insecurity.
El Salvador’s unwavering Bitcoin purchases signal its ambition to remain a global leader in cryptocurrency adoption, even as it navigates international pressures and domestic challenges.