El Salvador received money138,000,000 in U.S. dollars from the International Monetary Fund after approving an exemption on bitcoin

The International Monetary Fund approved an immediate payment of approximately US$138 million to El Salvador under the Value Finance Scheme.1.4 US$1 billion despite some compliance criteria not being met, including a bitcoin accumulation criterion.

The two-round review is part of a 40-month budget.

On Thursday, the International Monetary Fund said in a statement that its board of directors had completed the second and third reviews under El Salvador's 40-month Extended Fund Facility agreement.

The two-stage review serves to monitor progress against the terms of the financial plan, and upon completion is a step that allows the IMF to consider approving disbursements despite some errors.

Requirements not met with relaxation.

Although some criteria were not met, the International Monetary Fund approved a relaxation by citing strong corrective measures and renewed commitment.

The agency noted that El Salvador has made progress in financial sector reform, fiscal transparency, anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing reforms as well as transferring majority ownership and control of the government's Chivo bitcoin wallet to private providers.

The International Monetary Fund noted that efforts will continue to reduce government involvement in bitcoin-related activities, enhance the regulation and supervision of digital asset activity, and increase transparency on state ownership of digital assets, asserting that no additional Bitcoin accumulation exceeds a recorded donation.

Bitcoins that went up after the first review.

El Salvador has not used public resources to accumulate bitcoins after the first review of its monetary plan with the International Monetary Fund in June, according to data from the agency.

Official documents submitted by El Salvador confirm that the accumulation came from private donations, so the increase in El Salvadoran holdings does not reflect additional purchases of bitcoin with state resources.

An indication of where the money came from.

The International Monetary Fund also noted that majority ownership and operational control of the Chivo wallet has been transferred to private providers, while the government remains a minority shareholder with oversight responsibilities.

The index addresses the question of how El Salvador's holdings increased after its first review, with the country having indicated in November2025 that it had received1,090 BTC US$100 million worth of bonds, casting doubt on compliance with a financial plan.1.4 A billion US dollars came back.

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