El Salvador unveils Sivar app for digital dollar remittances

6.7 Adoption

Sep 29, 2026

El Salvador launches Sivar, a government-backed app on Base, enabling low-cost digital dollar remittances with a $2 flat fee, shifting focus from bitcoin to stablecoins.

El Salvador is enhancing its digital payment landscape with the launch of Sivar, a government-backed app developed in partnership with Modveon and built on Coinbase’s Base network. Sivar allows Salvadorans to send and hold digital U.S. dollars, with a particular focus on remittances. The app features a flat $2 fee for cross-border transfers, making it one of the most affordable options in the U.S.-El Salvador remittance corridor. Sivar utilizes self-custodial wallets and incorporates Modveon’s identity verification system. This enables users to access community and institutional services, participate in discussions, and vote in local elections. The initiative follows limited mainstream adoption of bitcoin, which became legal tender in 2021, and the transition of the Chivo wallet to private management. By shifting to stablecoins, El Salvador aims to offer a more stable and efficient remittance solution. Users can cash out at over 1,000 locations nationwide. While Modveon’s technology is active in the country, there is no public contract or live app listing yet, though official events confirm ongoing development.