IMF approves $138M for El Salvador, urges Bitcoin halt

6.8 Macro

Oct 2, 2026

IMF projects 4.5% growth for El Salvador in 2026, approves $138M despite Bitcoin policy breach, and urges no further Bitcoin accumulation.

El Salvador has received a positive outlook from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which forecasts a 4.5% GDP growth for 2026, following a robust 3.9% expansion in 2025. The IMF completed the second and third reviews of El Salvador’s $1.4 billion Extended Fund Facility, unlocking an immediate disbursement of approximately $138 million. The IMF acknowledged El Salvador’s breach of Bitcoin holding limits but granted a waiver, clarifying that the excess Bitcoin came from private donations, not public funds. Despite this, the IMF maintains a cap on Bitcoin holdings and has advised El Salvador to halt further accumulation and transfer remaining crypto assets to the private sector. The IMF praised El Salvador’s progress in fiscal reforms, security improvements, investor confidence, and advances in financial system transparency and anti-money laundering measures. While tourism has surged 30% since Bitcoin adoption, the IMF remains cautious about further cryptocurrency involvement.