El Salvador Defies IMF and Continues Bitcoin Accumulation

Tatevik Avetisyan
By Tatevik Avetisyan 3 Min Read

YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — El Salvador has added 13 BTC since March 1, increasing its Bitcoin holdings to more than 6,105 BTC. The El Salvador Bitcoin Office confirmed that the total value of these holdings exceeds $527 million at current prices.

The country follows a daily Bitcoin purchase strategy, acquiring 1 BTC per day. However, on March 3, El Salvador purchased 5 BTC in a single transaction, marking a rare deviation from its usual pace.

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El Salvador’s Bitcoin Holdings Surge Past 6,105 BTC Amid Continued Accumulation. Source: El Salvador Bitcoin Office
El Salvador’s Bitcoin Holdings Surge Past 6,105 BTC Amid Continued Accumulation. Source: El Salvador Bitcoin Office

El Salvador’s IMF Agreement and Bitcoin Policy Changes

In December 2024, El Salvador signed a $1.4 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As part of the deal, the government agreed to repeal Bitcoin’s legal tender status and limit public sector involvement with the cryptocurrency.

To comply with the agreement, El Salvador’s Congress voted 55-2 in January 2025 to amend its Bitcoin laws. Despite this, the government has continued to buy Bitcoin daily. On February 1, El Salvador purchased two BTC in a single day, maintaining its Bitcoin accumulation strategy.

IMF Pushes El Salvador to Halt Bitcoin Purchases

On March 3, the IMF issued a formal request, urging El Salvador to stop accumulating Bitcoin and to avoid issuing debt or tokenized securities tied to the cryptocurrency.

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El Salvador’s IMF Loan Agreement and Economic Policy Adjustments Detailed in Official Report. Source: International Monetary Fund
El Salvador’s IMF Loan Agreement and Economic Policy Adjustments Detailed in Official Report. Source: International Monetary Fund

President Nayib Bukele responded directly, rejecting the pressure.

“If it didn’t stop when the world ostracized us and most ‘bitcoiners’ abandoned us, it won’t stop now, and it won’t stop in the future,”

Bukele stated.

Nayib Bukele Reaffirms El Salvador’s Bitcoin Strategy Amid IMF Pressure. Source: Nayib Bukele
Nayib Bukele Reaffirms El Salvador’s Bitcoin Strategy Amid IMF Pressure. Source: Nayib Bukele on X

Bitcoin Adoption Attracts Crypto Firms to El Salvador

El Salvador’s Bitcoin policies have led several crypto firms to relocate to the country.

On Jan. 7, Bitfinex Derivatives announced its move from Seychelles to El Salvador. On Ja. 13, Tether, the issuer of USDT, confirmed plans to relocate its headquarters to the country.

El Salvador’s Bitcoin accumulation strategy remains unchanged, despite external pressure.

Tatevik Crypto Journalist CoinChapter

Tatevik Avetisyan

Tatev Avetisyan is a Markets Writer and Analyst at CoinChapter, covering cryptocurrency markets, policy, and regulation. With over seven years of experience in business and marketing development, she has spent the past two years specializing in digital assets and has authored more than 2,000 articles on crypto markets and regulatory developments.She contributes as a guest writer to leading industry publications and is a prominent Web3 advocate in Armenia through Web3Armenia. Her work reflects a broader focus on artificial intelligence and Web3 technologies. Tatev maintains a diversified crypto portfolio, with Bitcoin as her primary holding above CoinChapter’s $1,000 disclosure threshold.