IMF Clears Path for $140M El Salvador Funding Amid Shift from Public BTC Holdings
El Salvador is set to receive $140 million in funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pending approval and completion of prior actions. This brings the total disbursements under the Extended Fund Facility arrangement to a significant level, with a total access of approximately $1.4 billion.
The country has made progress in strengthening its macroeconomic situation, with real GDP growth exceeding projections in 2025 and forecast to reach 4.5% in 2026. This is attributed to investment, private consumption, remittances, tourism, and capital inflows.
One key development is that El Salvador has used no public funds for Bitcoin purchases since June 2025. The country has provided documentation verifying that all accumulated Bitcoin came from private donations. Going forward, no further BTC accumulation beyond documented donations is expected.
The IMF agreement also includes the transfer of majority ownership and operational control of the Chivo e-wallet to a private operator, with the government retaining a minority stake and custodial responsibilities for customer assets.