Company International Monetary Fund Continues Talks With El Salvador on Bitcoin, Chivo Wallet Sale

Company International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday that discussions with El Salvador remain focused on enhancing transparency, safeguarding public resources and mitigating risks related to the country's national Bitcoin policy. The IMF update notes ongoing negotiations that include the potential sale of the government-run Chivo crypto wallet, a program that has been subject to widespread public scrutiny since its launch.

The IMF singled out specific priorities in its talks: improved fiscal transparency, stronger safeguards for public funds, and clearer approaches to operational and cybersecurity risks surrounding state-held cryptocurrency initiatives. According to the IMF statement, the second review of El Salvador's 40-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is progressing with these themes central to the review process. For the full institutional context, see Company International Monetary Fund.

El Salvador's Bitcoin accumulation policy has remained visible and controversial. Despite IMF concerns and conditional language in the EFF arrangement, El Salvador continued its daily-buy program and recently added 1,098 BTC to the national treasury — bringing national holdings to 7,509 BTC, according to public transaction logs posted by Company Bitcoin Office. That purchase sequence, largely a policy of acquiring one BTC per day, persisted during significant market volatility and a notable market selloff earlier in the year.

Public debate has centered on the operational integrity and security of the Chivo wallet. The first government-backed Bitcoin wallet saw reports of bugs, frozen accounts, and accusations of identity theft and fraud, prompting calls from some insiders for the application to be wound down. In public comments last year Ms. Stacy Herbert, director of Company Bitcoin Office, stated that Chivo "will be sold or wound down," while indicating that several private-sector wallets would continue to serve Salvadoran users.

Political commentary has been strong as well. Mr. Nayib Bukele has publicly defended the country's Bitcoin accumulation strategy, stressing continuity even when international actors criticized the program. On social media the president emphasized that the accumulation will not stop, framing the purchases as a long-term national strategy despite IMF sensitivities.

This episode raises important questions for investors and analysts tracking sovereign exposure to digital assets. From an analysis perspective, the situation highlights the tension between a sovereign's strategic asset accumulation and the conditionalities imposed by international financial institutions. Key dynamics to watch include: whether the Chivo wallet is sold to private-sector operators, how the IMF and El Salvador reconcile accumulation with EFF terms, and the impact of continued sovereign buying on market liquidity and price support for Bitcoin.

For more on the day-to-day disclosures and official posts, see the reporting by Company Cryptonews and the tweet threads from Company Diario El Salvador and Company Bitcoin Office.