El Salvador Considers Launching Bitcoin Banks
Date: 2025-08-11 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: IN WORLD
The Salvadoran government has announced its intention to develop a network of Bitcoin banks in the country, but the details of future regulations for such institutions have not yet been disclosed. It is assumed that they will be able to provide services for accepting deposits, issuing loans, and offering investment products based on the use of Bitcoin.
The idea is closely related to President Nayib Bukele's proposal to create a Bank for Private Investment (BPI). According to the concept, such banks will operate under conditions of minimal regulation compared to traditional credit institutions. El Salvador's Ambassador to the United States Milena Mayorga noted that this will allow financial institutions to more freely cooperate with foreign banks and actively lend.
Bukele's initial project stipulated that the BPI would require an authorized capital of at least $50 million and at least two shareholders to register. These banks will be able to obtain the status of digital asset managers and offer services directly related to bitcoin. The Commission on Technology, Tourism and Investment is currently studying the potential for launching such a model in the country.
Bukele's senior adviser on cryptocurrencies, Max Keiser, expressed confidence that the integration of bitcoin into the banking sector will become a powerful driver of GDP growth. His opinion is shared by the head of Ark Investment, Cathie Wood, who predicts a significant improvement in economic indicators within five years after the launch of the BPI.
However, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund, El Salvador has stopped purchasing BTC since the beginning of 2025. This decision was made after receiving the Extended Fund Facility stabilization fund for $1.4 billion from the IMF. Despite the focus on the development of cryptocurrency infrastructure, the country's authorities plan to continue to rely on IMF loan programs to finance government projects.
Thus, the initiative to create bitcoin banks and the BPI reflects El Salvador's desire to strengthen its position in the global financial system through cryptocurrencies, while maintaining access to international financial support. If the plan is realized, the country could become one of the first to integrate Bitcoin into the traditional banking sector at a national level.
