IMF Clears El Salvador's Bitcoin Reserve Growth

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has clarified that El Salvador's Bitcoin reserve increases after its first review in June 2025 did not involve new purchases funded by public resources. According to the IMF, documents provided by Salvadoran authorities attributed the growth to private donations.

The IMF verified this explanation and concluded that the additions should not be treated as additional government-funded Bitcoin buying within the terms of the program. This distinction matters because El Salvador's IMF deal includes restrictions on how the public sector can engage with Bitcoin.

The lender also addressed governance of the Chivo wallet, stating that majority ownership and operational control have been transferred to a private operator, while the government retains a minority stake and custodial responsibilities.