El Salvador’s Bitcoin Holdings Surge to $644M, Generating $357M in Unrealized Gains

While the IMF has required limitations on public-sector crypto engagement as part of a $1.4 billion loan agreement, El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office has continued purchasing one BTC per day.

This strategy appears to have paid off, as the country now holds a massive trove of unrealized gains worth over $357 million, driven by Bitcoin’s recent rally as the cryptocurrency inches closer to breaking its previously established all-time high.

El Salvador’s BTC Treasure Trove

President Nayib Bukele shared a screenshot on X that revealed that El Salvador’s BTC portfolio, which is now worth more than $644 million, was built on an initial investment of $287.1 million. As such, this has translated into over 124% profit margin.

Despite ongoing scrutiny from global financial institutions, El Salvador has remained firm in its BTC accumulation strategy. Bukele, who led the move to legalize Bitcoin in 2021 as a means of boosting financial inclusion, has consistently dismissed external pressure to roll back the program.

According to the data compiled by Bitcoin Treasuries, the Central American country’s holdings of 6,181 BTC position it as the sixth-largest sovereign BTC holder across the world, with the US topping the list, followed by China, the UK, Ukraine, and Bhutan, respectively.

Bitcoin Bet Marches On Despite IMF Constraints

Last December, El Salvador agreed to scale back its Bitcoin-focused policies as part of a financing arrangement with the International Monetary Fund. The package, which includes a $1.4 billion loan and is expected to total over $3.5 billion, came with conditions that aimed to reduce crypto activity in the country.

The IMF had previously warned of possible risks tied to El Salvador’s BTC holdings. Complying with the deal, lawmakers approved reforms in January of this year, such as making Bitcoin acceptance optional for businesses rather than mandatory.

However, Bukele made it clear that the cryptocurrency remains a central part of his vision. In a post on X, the country’s President insisted that the buying strategy will continue despite international agreements while asserting that El Salvador stood firm even when it was globally criticized and largely abandoned by the broader crypto community.