IMF says El Salvador’s Bitcoin additions came from private donations
The IMF describes documented private donations, no use of public resources, and a pending program review.
International Monetary Fund staff said on September 3, 2026, that El Salvador provided documents showing its Bitcoin accumulation since the first review of its lending program reflected private donations. The IMF statement says no public resources were used for those additions.
The finding concerns accumulation since that first review, which the IMF concluded on June 27, 2025. It does not identify the donors, state a current total for all government Bitcoin wallets, or establish that future additions are permitted. IMF staff said no further Bitcoin accumulation beyond the documented donations is expected.
Program review still needs approval
IMF staff and Salvadoran authorities reached a preliminary agreement on the combined second and third reviews of the country’s Extended Fund Facility program. If the IMF Executive Board approves the reviews and El Salvador completes the agreed prior actions, the country would receive about $140 million, or SDR 101.96 million. That payment was not approved by the staff-level agreement alone.
The IMF also said majority ownership and operational control of Chivo, the former government e-wallet, had transferred to a private operator. The government retained a minority stake and custodial responsibilities for customer assets. IMF staff called for more transparency around Bitcoin held across government wallets and for stronger rules and oversight for digital assets and public-sector crypto holdings.