The International Monetary Fund has confirmed that El Salvador’s recent Bitcoin acquisitions were funded solely through private donations, with no public money used. The country is scaling back government involvement in its Chivo e-wallet by transferring majority ownership to a private operator. As part of a staff-level agreement with the IMF, El Salvador will strengthen oversight of its public-sector crypto holdings and update its digital-asset legal framework. No further Bitcoin accumulation beyond the documented donations is expected. The IMF also reported that El Salvador’s economy grew faster than anticipated in 2025, with real GDP growth projected at 4.5% this year.
The International Monetary Fund has stated that El Salvador has significantly reduced public participation in its Chivo e-wallet, transferring majority ownership and operational control to a private operator. The government retains a minority stake and responsibility for holding customer assets.
On Bitcoin accumulation, the IMF said the country provided documentation showing that the BTC acquired since the first review of its IMF program came solely from private donations. The IMF emphasized that “no public funds were used for the purchases” and that no additional Bitcoin accumulation beyond those donations is expected.
Efforts are underway to improve transparency regarding El Salvador’s BTC holdings across its different wallets. The staff-level agreement also includes measures to strengthen the governance and risk management of crypto assets held by the public sector, along with plans to update the country’s digital-asset legal and supervisory framework.
IMF Mission Chief Mr. Torres stated that El Salvador’s economy grew more than expected in 2025, with real GDP growth projected to reach 4.5% this year. The outlook is supported by investment, consumer spending, remittances, tourism, and capital inflows, alongside improved security and higher investor confidence.
El Salvador became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender, but its use has faced continued opposition from the IMF. As part of negotiations for its $1.4 billion IMF program, the country agreed to limit public-sector involvement in BTC and make private-sector acceptance voluntary. The National Bitcoin Office’s reserve tracker currently lists approximately 7,764 BTC, worth roughly $630 million at current prices.
