IMF grants $140M to El Salvador after Bitcoin policy shift

IMF to provide El Salvador $140M after confirming no public funds used for Bitcoin since June 2025; new accumulations from private donations and Bitcoin acceptance is now voluntary.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached a staff-level agreement to provide El Salvador with $140 million in additional aid under its $1.4 billion Extended Fund Facility, pending Executive Board approval. This follows confirmation that El Salvador has not used public funds to purchase Bitcoin since June 2025, with recent Bitcoin accumulations attributed to private donations. As part of the IMF’s conditions, El Salvador must make Bitcoin acceptance voluntary for businesses and consumers, reversing the previous mandate. The country’s Bitcoin holdings now exceed 7,600 BTC, valued at over $500 million, with no further public spending. Additionally, the majority ownership of the Chivo wallet has been transferred to a private operator. The broader EFF program aims to catalyze over $3.5 billion in additional multilateral support. Bitcoin transactions in El Salvador have declined, with only one reported in the past month. The IMF’s confirmation and funding agreement mark a significant development in El Salvador’s financial and Bitcoin strategies.