El Salvador and Bitcoin as legal tender
What El Salvador's 2021 law did, how it changed in 2025, and what the experiment shows.
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2021: legal tender
In September 2021 El Salvador became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender alongside the US dollar, and launched a government wallet.
2025: acceptance made voluntary
In early 2025, as part of an agreement with the IMF, the law was amended so that businesses are no longer required to accept Bitcoin. The government has continued to report Bitcoin purchases for its reserve.
FAQ
- Do other countries use Bitcoin as legal tender?
- The Central African Republic adopted it in 2022 and later reversed course. Rules change, so check current sources.
On the site
Original bitcointalk.org threads
- El Salvador to make Bitcoin legal tender · 3,920 replies / 59,237 views (as of 13 Oct 2026)
Our own explanation; forum threads are linked, not copied. Not investment advice.
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