‘It gave us branding, investment, and tourism’

El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, defended his country’s groundbreaking decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, emphasizing its impact on the nation’s global image and economic opportunities. 

In a recent interview with Time Magazine, Bukele highlighted Bitcoin’s (BTC) benefits to El Salvador despite widespread skepticism and limited domestic adoption.

Bukele said Bitcoin not only “gave us branding,” the embrace of a digital economy helped boost tourism and spur investments. The interview comes three years after making El Salvador the first country in the world to embrace Bitcoin officially. 

Bukele, who graced the cover of Time Magazine as the “world’s coolest dictator,” has become a polarizing figure in global policy. While fewer than 12% of Salvadorans have made a single Bitcoin transaction, according to Time, the President insisted that the primary goal was to reposition El Salvador on the global stage.

According to recent reports, the country holds 5,851 BTC worth approximately $352,300,000 at the time of writing.

El Salvador and Bitcoin

El Salvador made global headlines in September 2021 when it became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. This move, driven by Bukele, aimed to boost financial inclusion in a nation where 70% of the population lacks access to traditional banking services. 

The government introduced the Chivo Wallet, an official crypto app, offering citizens $30 in free Bitcoin as an incentive to download and use the app. Despite these efforts, widespread adoption was limited, with many early users not engaging in subsequent transactions after spending the initial bonus.

The rationale behind El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption was multifaceted. One primary motivation was to provide financial services to the unbanked population and reduce the cost of remittances, which are vital to the Salvadoran economy. 

Bitcoin, particularly through the Lightning Network, also aims to facilitate faster and cheaper transactions, which is crucial in a country where traditional banking infrastructure is often inaccessible. However, the policy has faced significant challenges, including technical issues with the Chivo Wallet and skepticism from the general population.

Critics of Bukele 

Critics of El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin, including major financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, expressed concerns about the risks associated with Bitcoin’s volatility and its potential impact on financial stability. 

Despite these warnings, President Bukele remained committed to the Bitcoin experiment, viewing it as a bold step towards economic innovation and financial independence.

Bukele remained unapologetic, viewing Bitcoin as a key element of his broader strategy to attract foreign capital and boost tourism. 

In a sense, this logic worked. Damian Merlo, a lobbyist, told Time that the Bitcoin tourism gamble paid off.

 “We call it the Great Rebranding. It was genius…we could have paid millions to a PR firm to rebrand El Salvador. Instead, we just adopted Bitcoin.”

Damian Merlo.