El Salvador Adds 11 Bitcoin to Its Reserves—Despite IMF Pressure to Back Off BTC
El Salvador has recently added 11 Bitcoin to its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, valuing the addition at over $1 million. This move comes after the country assured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in December 2024 that it would curb its Bitcoin adoption in exchange for a $1.4 billion loan. The IMF had previously urged El Salvador to restrict businesses from being required to accept Bitcoin and limit government involvement in cryptocurrency. Despite these pressures, Stacy Herbert, head of the country’s National Bitcoin Office, stated that El Salvador would accelerate its Bitcoin accumulation. This decision is controversial, as the IMF has long criticized El Salvador's decision to make Bitcoin legal tender in September 2021, raising concerns about potential macroeconomic risks. The IMF continues to advocate for measures to enhance transparency and mitigate financial risks related to Bitcoin. In August, the organization noted that many risks of the Bitcoin initiative had yet to materialize, highlighting the need for ongoing caution.
Source 🔗