IMF Now Says Donations Funded El Salvador's Bitcoin Growth
The IMF said El Salvador’s Bitcoin reserve increases since mid-2025 came from private donations, not public funds, and no further additions beyond those documented donations are expected. This differs from El Salvador’s public claim that it continues buying one Bitcoin per day, including recent statements about new purchases. The reserve reportedly grew from 5,968 BTC when the IMF program began in December 2024 to 7,764 BTC. The IMF also said majority ownership and operational control of Chivo, the state wallet, has shifted to a private operator, while El Salvador retains a minority stake and custody responsibility. The staff-level agreement would release about $140 million after board approval and completion of prior actions under the $1.4 billion IMF program. Conditions include making Bitcoin acceptance voluntary, keeping taxes in dollars, and stopping public-sector Bitcoin buying.
