El Salvador's Bitcoin Strategy Under Spotlight Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election

El Salvador's Bitcoin strategy is heading into one of its biggest tests yet as the country prepares for the February 2027 presidential election. The National Bitcoin Office has been quietly accumulating BTC, purchasing roughly one unit every day.

The government's holdings now stand at around 7,725.37 BTC, up from approximately 7,700 BTC a month earlier. President Nayib Bukele's daily accumulation plan remains intact despite changing regulations.

Both candidates nominated by the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) and Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) have criticized Bukele's Bitcoin strategy as a fiscal failure rather than an economic success.

The IMF has continued to warn about fiscal and governance risks while stating that the strategy has not significantly improved financial inclusion for unbanked citizens. However, relations between the government and the IMF appear constructive after the IMF's First Deputy Managing Director praised El Salvador's economic achievements.