IMF Admits Error: Donations Funded El Salvador’s Bitcoin Growth
IMF now confirms El Salvador's Bitcoin growth came from private donations, reversing previous assessment that claimed no increase in holdings.
The update
The International Monetary Fund has reversed its previous assessment of El Salvador’s Bitcoin holdings, now confirming that all Bitcoin added to the country’s national reserve since June 2025 came from private donations rather than public funds. This contradicts the IMF’s position from September 2025, when the fund claimed the total quantity of government-owned Bitcoin had not increased at all.
Why it matters
This reversal validates El Salvador’s Bitcoin strategy and exposes a significant error in the IMF’s previous assessment. The correction comes as the IMF reaches a preliminary agreement on El Salvador’s combined second and third program reviews, potentially unlocking about $140 million in funding. The admission also clarifies the source of El Salvador’s growing Bitcoin reserve, which now stands at 7,764 BTC.
What to watch
Will the IMF’s position change affect other countries considering Bitcoin adoption? How will this impact El Salvador’s relationship with international financial institutions? The nature of these private donations remains unclear, as does whether the Bitcoin Office’s recent claims of “buying” Bitcoin were accurate.
Sources
- decrypt.co — Original reporting on IMF's position reversal and details about the Bitcoin reserve
- coindesk.com — Confirmation of private donations funding Bitcoin growth and IMF program details
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