El Salvador is the first country in the world to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender. This move could potentially spur global recognition of the cryptocurrency and its underlying blockchain technology.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced the news at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, saying that the country’s Congress had approved the bill with a supermajority. .
“I am pleased to announce that yesterday, [the] Salvadoran Congress unanimously approved and declared Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador,” said Bukele. “We expect [the] initiative to generate more jobs and attract more investments to our country.”
The president added that the cryptocurrency will be regulated by the country’s existing financial infrastructure, including its central bank. He also said that Bitcoin will help reduce costs for remittances and boost economic inclusion in El Salvador.
Bukele has been a vocal advocate of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Last year, he proposed creating a sovereign crypto asset for El Salvador, dubbed the “El Salvadorean digital dollar.
” The project is still in its early stages, but Bukele has hinted that it could be launched on the Ethereum blockchain.
The move to make Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador is a bold one, and it could have major implications for cryptocurrency adoption around the world. Many countries are still undecided on how to regulate Bitcoin and other digital assets, so El Salvador’s decision could set a precedent for others to follow.
Only time will tell how this plays out, but one thing is for sure: President Bukele is firmly committed to making his country a leader in the digital economy.
How Much Bitcoin Does El Salvador Own?
As of right now, it is unknown how much Bitcoin El Salvador owns.