Politics & Government
El Salvador Just Made It Legal for Bukele To Stay in Power Indefinitely
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Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, August 3rd 2025 at 5:44 GMT by Reason.com🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
With near-total control of Congress, Nayib Bukele's party eliminated key limits on presidential power.
El Salvador's Historic Move: Adopting Bitcoin as Legal Tender
In a groundbreaking decision that has sent ripples through the global financial landscape, El Salvador has become the first country in the world to officially recognize Bitcoin as legal tender. This bold step, announced and enacted in 2021, positions the Central American nation at the forefront of cryptocurrency adoption, challenging traditional monetary systems and sparking intense debate among economists, policymakers, and crypto enthusiasts alike. President Nayib Bukele, the driving force behind this initiative, presented the move as a pathway to financial inclusion, economic growth, and independence from conventional banking structures dominated by institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
The legislation, known as the Bitcoin Law, was passed swiftly by El Salvador's Legislative Assembly in June 2021, with overwhelming support from Bukele's Nuevas Ideas party. Under the law, Bitcoin is now accepted alongside the U.S. dollar, which has been the country's official currency since 2001 when it dollarized to combat hyperinflation and stabilize its economy. This dual-currency system means that businesses must accept Bitcoin for goods and services, taxes can be paid in the cryptocurrency, and there are no capital gains taxes on Bitcoin transactions. The government has even gone a step further by launching initiatives to promote its use, including a national Bitcoin wallet called Chivo, which translates to "cool" in Salvadoran slang.
President Bukele, a tech-savvy millennial leader who often communicates via Twitter, justified the adoption by highlighting El Salvador's heavy reliance on remittances. The country receives over $6 billion annually in remittances from Salvadorans living abroad, primarily in the United States, which accounts for about 20% of its GDP. Traditional remittance services like Western Union charge high fees, often eating into these vital funds. By embracing Bitcoin, Bukele argues, Salvadorans can send money home instantly and at a fraction of the cost, bypassing intermediaries and reducing transaction fees to near zero. To kickstart adoption, the government offered $30 worth of Bitcoin to every citizen who downloaded the Chivo wallet, a move aimed at familiarizing the population with digital currencies.
The rollout, however, was not without its challenges. On September 7, 2021, dubbed "Bitcoin Day," the Chivo wallet faced technical glitches, including server overloads and connectivity issues, leading to widespread frustration. Protests erupted in the capital, San Salvador, where demonstrators voiced concerns over the volatility of Bitcoin's value, potential for money laundering, and the lack of public consultation in the decision-making process. Critics, including opposition politicians and civil society groups, argued that the move was rushed and could expose the economy to unnecessary risks. Bitcoin's infamous price swings—having plummeted from highs of over $60,000 to below $30,000 in the months surrounding the adoption—raised fears of financial instability for everyday citizens who might not fully understand the technology.
Internationally, the response has been mixed. The IMF, which was in negotiations with El Salvador for a $1 billion loan, expressed strong reservations, warning that Bitcoin's adoption could complicate macroeconomic stability and increase risks related to financial integrity and consumer protection. The organization urged caution, emphasizing the need for robust regulatory frameworks to mitigate issues like cyber threats and illicit activities. Similarly, the World Bank declined to assist with the implementation, citing environmental and transparency concerns. On the other hand, cryptocurrency advocates and figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk praised the move, seeing it as a validation of Bitcoin's potential as a global currency. Musk even tweeted his support, boosting Bitcoin's price temporarily.
From an economic perspective, El Salvador's strategy extends beyond remittances. The government has invested heavily in Bitcoin, purchasing hundreds of millions of dollars' worth using public funds. Bukele announced buys during market dips, framing them as strategic investments. To power this crypto economy, the country is leveraging its natural resources, particularly geothermal energy from volcanoes, to mine Bitcoin in an environmentally friendly way. A state-run mining facility was established near the Tecapa volcano, aiming to produce Bitcoin using clean energy and reduce the carbon footprint associated with traditional mining operations, which often rely on fossil fuels.
This volcanic Bitcoin mining initiative is part of a broader vision to attract foreign investment and tourism. Bukele envisions "Bitcoin City," a proposed tax-free haven powered by geothermal energy, where residents and businesses can operate solely in cryptocurrency. Funded initially by $1 billion in "volcano bonds"—government-issued bonds backed by Bitcoin—the project promises infrastructure development, including residential areas, commercial zones, and even an airport. Proponents see this as a model for other developing nations struggling with debt and inflation, potentially inspiring countries like Paraguay, Tanzania, or even larger economies in Latin America to explore similar paths.
Yet, the adoption has not been without controversy on the domestic front. Human rights organizations have criticized Bukele's administration for what they perceive as authoritarian tendencies, including the rapid passage of the Bitcoin Law without thorough debate. There are concerns that the government's control over the Chivo wallet could lead to surveillance of citizens' financial activities, eroding privacy in a country already grappling with gang violence and corruption. Moreover, a significant portion of the population lacks access to smartphones or reliable internet, essential for using digital wallets, raising questions about true inclusivity. Surveys conducted shortly after the launch indicated that while urban youth embraced the change, rural and older demographics remained skeptical or uninformed.
Looking ahead, the long-term implications of El Salvador's Bitcoin experiment are profound. If successful, it could democratize finance in the developing world, providing unbanked populations with access to global markets and reducing dependency on the U.S. dollar. Economists point to potential benefits like faster economic transactions, lower costs for international trade, and innovation in fintech. However, failure—marked by sustained Bitcoin volatility or regulatory backlash—could deter other nations and reinforce skepticism toward cryptocurrencies.
El Salvador's move has also spotlighted broader debates in the crypto space. Bitcoin, created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto as a decentralized alternative to fiat currencies, was designed to operate outside government control. Ironically, its adoption as legal tender by a sovereign state represents a fusion of state power and blockchain technology, blurring the lines between centralized and decentralized finance. This hybrid model could influence how other governments approach digital assets, especially as central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) gain traction in places like China and the European Union.
In the months following the adoption, Bitcoin's integration into daily life has shown mixed results. Some businesses, particularly in tourist areas like El Zonte—known as "Bitcoin Beach"—have thrived, accepting crypto payments from international visitors. Street vendors and small shops have begun experimenting with QR code transactions, and the government reports millions of dollars in remittances processed through Chivo. Yet, adoption rates remain uneven, with many Salvadorans preferring the stability of the dollar amid Bitcoin's price fluctuations.
Critics argue that the focus on Bitcoin distracts from pressing issues like poverty, unemployment, and violence. El Salvador's economy, one of the smallest in Latin America, faces structural challenges including high debt levels and vulnerability to natural disasters. The Bitcoin gamble, they say, is a high-stakes bet that could exacerbate inequality if the wealthy and tech-literate benefit disproportionately.
Supporters, however, view it as a visionary leap. Bukele's administration has positioned El Salvador as a "crypto nation," hosting international conferences and partnering with blockchain companies to build expertise. The president has even suggested that Bitcoin could help fund social programs, with mining profits potentially allocated to education and healthcare.
As the world watches, El Salvador's experiment serves as a real-time case study in the viability of cryptocurrency as national tender. Whether it leads to prosperity or peril remains to be seen, but it undeniably marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of money. Other countries, from Nigeria to Ukraine, are monitoring closely, weighing the risks and rewards of following suit. In an era of digital transformation, El Salvador's bold step challenges the status quo, inviting a reevaluation of what currency means in the 21st century.
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