Key Takeaways:
- El Salvador’s Bitcoin investment strategy under President Nayib Bukele has led to an $85 million profit, with its treasury’s cryptocurrency holdings now valued at over $200 million, thanks to the recent surge in Bitcoin prices.
- Despite initial skepticism and market volatility, El Salvador’s Bitcoin portfolio, consisting of 2,861 BTC, has proven to be a profitable venture, especially after Bitcoin’s price rebounded from a low of $16,000 to over $72,000.
- Beyond the direct profit from Bitcoin’s value increase, El Salvador has diversified its cryptocurrency-related revenue streams, including a passport program, BTC to USD conversions for local businesses, Bitcoin mining, and government services, enhancing the country’s financial resilience.
El Salvador’s foray into Bitcoin has transformed its national treasury, with its cryptocurrency holdings now valued at over $200 million. This surge in value comes as the nation continues to embrace Bitcoin through various government-led initiatives.
Under the guidance of President Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s strategic investments in Bitcoin have yielded significant returns. With the recent upswing in Bitcoin prices, which soared to new heights surpassing $72,000 on March 11, El Salvador’s Bitcoin portfolio has flourished.
Initially met with skepticism, Bukele’s Bitcoin acquisition strategy has proven fruitful, achieving a 70% profit margin over the average purchase cost. This financial success story is tracked by the Nayib Tracker website, highlighting the nation’s $85 million profit amidst the cryptocurrency’s rally.
El Salvador ventured into the Bitcoin market in September 2021, pioneering the integration of Bitcoin as legal tender. This bold move was marked by the purchase of 200 Bitcoin at a price of $51,769 each.
Despite facing a severe market downturn, where Bitcoin’s value plummeted from its peak of $69,000 in November 2021 to a low of $16,000, El Salvador’s Bitcoin investment has rebounded impressively. The recovery was signaled when Bitcoin’s value exceeded the country’s average purchase price of $42,600 in February, catapulting the investment into profitability.
With a total holding of 2,861 BTC, El Salvador’s Bitcoin portfolio is now worth approximately $205.8 million.
President Bukele has highlighted that the nation’s Bitcoin profits are not solely from the increase in value but also from various revenue streams. These include earnings from the country’s passport program, conversions of BTC to USD for local businesses, Bitcoin mining operations, and revenues from government services.
+ #BTC revenue from our passport program
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 11, 2024
+ Revenue from converting #BTC to USD for local businesses
+ #BTC from mining
+ #BTC revenue from government services https://t.co/O1sjKoJRiq
In a notable legislative move, El Salvador enacted a migration law in December, offering expedited citizenship to foreigners contributing Bitcoin donations towards the nation’s social and economic development initiatives.
Furthermore, El Salvador ventured into Bitcoin mining in partnership with Volcano Energy and Luxor Technology, marking another step towards leveraging cryptocurrency for national development.
Speculation abounds that if Bitcoin’s value reaches $100,000, El Salvador could potentially settle its debts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), moving closer to financial autonomy. This sentiment is echoed by venture capitalist Tim Draper, who foresees El Salvador achieving financial independence.
Fun interview with @Rachelwolf00 . We get into #bitcoin #web3 #NikkiHaley2024 #freedom and #trust . https://t.co/bnyKB5hsy9
— Tim Draper (@TimDraper) March 8, 2024
President Bukele’s re-election in February came with a strong mandate, amidst criticism over his Bitcoin strategy during the cryptocurrency’s lower valuation periods.
Bukele has countered this criticism by emphasizing the biased negative coverage during Bitcoin’s price dips, contrasting it with the country’s current profitable stance in the cryptocurrency market.
When #Bitcoin’s market price was low, they wrote literally thousands of articles about our supposed losses.
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) February 28, 2024
Now that #Bitcoin’s market price is way up, if we were to sell, we would make a profit of over 40% (just from the market purchases), and our main source of BTC is now our…