El Salvador Buys 240 Bitcoin Since IMF Loan Agreement

El Salvador has continued its Bitcoin accumulation strategy despite agreeing to a $1.4 billion loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that required halting such purchases and removing Bitcoin's legal tender status. Since December 2024, the country has quietly added 240 BTC to its treasury wallet, bringing the total to 6,209 BTC, valued at approximately $550 million. The government maintains technical compliance by using a flexible interpretation of the IMF agreement, channeling purchases through non-public entities or reclassifying holdings, thus sidestepping direct breaches of the loan terms. IMF officials acknowledge this nuanced approach, which allows El Salvador to sustain its crypto-friendly image while securing international financial aid. Meanwhile, despite the government's ongoing Bitcoin accumulation, cryptocurrency remittance payments to El Salvador have dropped sharply, indicating limited everyday adoption among the population. This complex dynamic highlights tensions between El Salvador's bold crypto ambitions and the IMF's regulatory expectations.