Only 11% of El Salvador’s registered Bitcoin firms operational

Key Points

  • Only 11% of El Salvador’s registered Bitcoin firms are operational.
  • The Bitcoin Law mandates stringent requirements like AML programs and cybersecurity systems.
  • 89% of providers have failed to meet these obligations.
  • El Salvador's Bitcoin experiment faces challenges with IMF deal affecting its Bitcoin strategy.

Summary

El Salvador's ambitious move to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender has hit several roadblocks, particularly in the operational status of its Bitcoin service providers. According to data from the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador, only 20 out of 181 registered Bitcoin firms are currently operational, representing just 11% of the total. The rest are classified as non-operational due to their failure to comply with the stringent requirements set by the country's Bitcoin Law. These requirements include maintaining an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program, accurate record-keeping of company assets, and implementing a tailored cybersecurity system. Despite these challenges, a few firms like Chivo Wallet, Crypto Trading & Investment, and Fintech Américas have managed to meet the legal criteria. This situation comes at a time when El Salvador has agreed to a $1.4 billion loan from the IMF, which includes conditions to limit Bitcoin's use in public sectors, although President Bukele has stated intentions to continue government purchases of Bitcoin, potentially contradicting the IMF deal.

cointelegraph
April 15, 2025
Crypto
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