El Salvador’s Bitcoin Bet Hits $583M—IMF Deal? Nah.

El Salvador is sticking to its Bitcoin plan – even as its $1.4 billion loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants to reduce crypto involvement. At the Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Economy Minister María Luisa Hayem said the country is still accumulating Bitcoin daily, and President Nayib Bukele is not backing down.

“Bitcoin is a project,” Hayem said, noting both public and private sectors are actively accumulating.

Bitcoin Policy vs IMF Agreement

Since becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, El Salvador has been praised and criticized. The IMF, citing fiscal risk and market volatility, included strict crypto conditions in its 2024 loan package.

IMF Loan Terms:

• Tighter fiscal discipline

• BTC for businesses optional, not required

• No more government Bitcoin purchases

But the country is not following these rules. While the IMF said during its 2025 Spring Meetings that El Salvador is in compliance, Hayem’s comments suggest a more aggressive accumulation strategy than officially acknowledged.

Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence confirms this, showing the government’s official wallet now holds 6,162 BTC – worth over $583 million at current prices.

Daily Bitcoin Accumulation

Instead of buying in bulk, El Salvador is reportedly buying 1 BTC per day, according to Arkham’s wallet tracking. This slow and steady approach has several benefits:

• Reduces short-term volatility

• Builds a long-term reserve

• Shows sustained policy commitment

Despite international pressure, Bukele’s administration is framing Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and a tool for financial inclusion – especially for the unbanked population.

Private sector participation is also growing. Hayem said more businesses are now incorporating crypto into their operations, so Bitcoin is deepening its roots in El Salvador’s overall economic model.

Bitcoin as Sovereign Strategy

El Salvador is once again in the spotlight – this time as a test case for national sovereignty vs global financial expectations. The government is betting that strategic crypto adoption can bring long term growth, even as it faces pressure from traditional lenders and credit agencies.

As the world watches, El Salvador’s daily Bitcoin purchases are sending a clear message: the country is playing the long game.