Cryptocurrency Citizenship: El Salvador Stands Alone Amid Global Programs

El Salvador stands out as the only country that accepts Bitcoin as payment for citizenship. The rest of the world's residence and citizenship by investment programs typically require payments in US dollars, euros, or other national currencies.

The application process for crypto investors depends on proof that the coins came from a lawful source and creating a paper trail when converting them to cash.

El Salvador's Freedom Passport program requires applicants to donate at least 1 million BTC or USDT. The program has no limit on participants per year, but it is unclear how this fits under Article 7 of the amended Bitcoin Law, which limits acceptance of Bitcoin as payment to individuals and private companies.

The European Union's Anti-Money Laundering Regulation will apply from July 2027, naming 'anonymous crypto-asset accounts' among those that providers may not maintain. Tax authorities are also preparing to exchange crypto data under the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).