El Salvador's bitcoin reserve tops 7,800 BTC despite IMF deal
El Salvador held 7,807 BTC on 16 October, up more than 1,700 since its IMF programme began in 2025. The Fund says new coins are private donations.
CryptoGroup Newsroom · · 3 min read
El Salvador's national bitcoin reserve has passed 7,800 coins, even though the country's $1.4 billion loan programme with the International Monetary Fund was meant to stop public bitcoin buying. Holdings stood at 7,807 BTC on 16 October — roughly $640–650 million with bitcoin near $82,000 — Crypto Briefing reported, based on wallets published by the country's National Bitcoin Office.
The numbers
- Now: 7,807 BTC as of 16 October 2026.
- When the IMF programme started (early 2025): about 6,070 BTC.
- Growth since then: more than 1,700 BTC.
- Policy: the government has said it adds one bitcoin a day, a practice that began in September 2021.
Unlike most governments that hold bitcoin — usually coins seized from criminals — El Salvador publishes the addresses of its reserve, so anyone can check the balance on the blockchain.
How that squares with the IMF
The IMF's Extended Fund Facility came with conditions: limits on bitcoin purchases by the public sector and an end to bitcoin's status as legal tender. El Salvador did drop legal tender, ending the experiment that started in 2021 alongside the state Chivo wallet and Lightning-based payments (our guide to the Lightning Network explains how those work).
The reserve, however, keeps growing. The Fund's position is that recent additions are private donations, not purchases made with government money, and that it does not expect growth beyond those contributions. President Nayib Bukele's government, meanwhile, keeps presenting the accumulation as an ongoing strategy.
Why it matters
The arrangement works as long as both sides accept the "donations" label. If the IMF later concluded that public resources were involved, how those coins are classified could become a sticking point in future programme reviews. The reserve is also fully exposed to bitcoin's price swings — the volatility the IMF has long flagged when assessing the country's finances. For a reminder of how large holders keep coins safe, see our guide on storing crypto safely.
Frequently asked questions
How much bitcoin does El Salvador hold?
7,807 BTC as of 16 October 2026, according to the wallets published by the National Bitcoin Office, worth roughly $640–650 million at about $82,000 per coin.
Is bitcoin still legal tender in El Salvador?
No. The country removed bitcoin's legal-tender status as part of its $1.4 billion IMF agreement, but it kept the national reserve.
Isn't El Salvador banned from buying bitcoin under the IMF deal?
The deal limits public-sector bitcoin purchases. The IMF says the recent additions are private donations rather than purchases with government funds.
Can anyone verify the reserve?
Yes. The National Bitcoin Office publishes the wallet addresses, so the balance can be checked on the public blockchain at any time.
This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research. Read our disclaimer
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