El Salvador celebrates 4 years with Bitcoin and adds 21 BTC to its national reserve.

El Salvador commemorates four years of the Bitcoin Law with a new purchase of 21 BTC, reaffirming its institutional strategy of sovereign accumulation of digital assets.

On September 7, El Salvador celebrated the fourth anniversary of a historic decision that positioned it as a pioneer in the global financial sphere: the approval of the Bitcoin Law. This regulatory project, which was implemented in September 2021, made the country the first nation to officially recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, complementing the use of the US dollar.

Since its approval, this measure has been a symbol of innovation and a reflection of the government's commitment to new ways of strengthening the national economy. This commemoration is made even more significant by the recent acquisition of 21 bitcoins additional, which reinforces the national reserve and demonstrates how El Salvador continues to invest in this strategy in its economic development.

El Salvador's path to integrating Bitcoin into everyone's life

The Bitcoin Office in El Salvador celebrated el “Bitcoin Day” to recognize the progress the country has made since adopting this cryptocurrency as legal tender. Since that historic moment, promoted by President Nayib Bukele and supported by the Legislative Assembly, El Salvador has taken important steps to integrate Bitcoin into its economic and social life.

As the entity explains, the decision to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender in the country sought to transform the national financial landscape, facilitating remittances and encouraging foreign investment. It also created a favorable environment for the use of Bitcoin by requiring certain businesses to accept this cryptocurrency as a means of payment and eliminating taxes on its transactions. 

Thus, the Bitcoin Law initiative encompassed more than just regulation; it was designed as a comprehensive strategy that included educational programs aimed at public officials and citizens to promote greater awareness of Bitcoin as a digital currency and tool for economic empowerment. 

Within the framework of this law, the nation has stood out by implementing several innovative technological projects, such as Bitcoin mining using geothermal energy from its volcanoes, a clear example of sustainability and innovation. El Salvador has also consolidated its identity as a "Bitcoin Country," with a unique strategic reserve and specialized programs for the development of related technologies, such as the Lightning Network.

However, although this transformation has captured international attention and positioned El Salvador as a benchmark in technological adoption, the everyday use of Bitcoin still faces challenges. Many people continue to learn and adapt to this new reality, making education and communication essential for expanding its use and understanding in daily life. In this way, the country is consciously and steadily moving toward a future where Bitcoin is more deeply integrated into its economic and social fabric.

More than 6.300 BTC amid international pressure

Since the approval of the Bitcoin Law, El Salvador has built a significant reserve of this cryptocurrency, which is currently exceeds 6.300 BTC, valued at over $700 million. The accumulation has been achieved through strategic purchases at different times, taking advantage of market fluctuations to strengthen the reserve, considered one of the first built at the sovereign level.

It is important to note that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concern about the potential economic implications of the country's high exposure to Bitcoin. Consequently, in December 2024, El Salvador signed a $1.400 billion loan agreement with the IMF, which establishes clear commitments to limit the official use of the cryptocurrency, including the obligation to accept it as legal tender in businesses, as initially established. Another measure agreed upon between the Salvadoran government and the IMF was the suspension of new purchases of this cryptocurrency by the government.

However, Bukele has adopted a dual stance in this situation. While complying with established conditions and seeking to adapt to international requirements, he continues to promote the integration of Bitcoin into the national economy and maintains an active focus on its accumulation. According to commentators, his stance reflects an attempt to balance financial innovation with the need to preserve macroeconomic stability and ensure access to international support.

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21 BTC: Symbol and Strategy on the Anniversary of the Bitcoin Law

To mark the four-year anniversary of the passage of its historic law, the government of El Salvador announced the acquisition of 21 bitcoins, which are added to its current strategic reserve. 

However, this recent purchase of 21 BTC represents much more than a simple figure. The 21 bitcoins mark the global maximum limit for this cryptocurrency, set at 21 million units, and symbolize the country's commitment to its pioneering role in the official use of digital assets. Therefore, this acquisition strengthens the state's strategic reserve and reaffirms El Salvador's position as one of the few countries with significant cryptocurrency reserves.

Amid all this, El Salvador is also adjusting its management of these digital assets. The national reserve is now divided among several Bitcoin addresses instead of being concentrated in a single one, a measure designed to improve security in the face of future challenges, such as the advancement of quantum computing, which could compromise certain traditional cryptographic protections.

All of these actions demonstrate how the country is moving forward with a realistic and professional approach, adapting to regulatory changes driven in part by international organizations like the IMF, while maintaining a focus on protecting investments and consolidating the integrity of its Bitcoin-backed strategy.