El Salvador and Bitcoin: the core

If you read this post then you have a notion about El Salvador and Bitcoin. But beyond the economic part (that I will go deep here later) there are other issues that BTC "brings" that is worth to analyze.

The push for BTC-related infrastructure, like Bitcoin City and a new Pacific airport, has raised alarms. The airport's construction is destroying vital mangroves in the Gulf of Fonseca. Mangroves provide carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and protection against earthquakes and hurricanes in a seismically active nation. Their loss risks soil instability, wildlife extinction (e.g., yellow-naped amazon parrots), and heightened climate vulnerability.

Socially, these projects have displaced communities—225 households evicted with inadequate compensation—while benefits skew toward elites and corporations. Land prices have surged pricing out locals and disrupting livelihoods like fishing. Broader criticisms tie this to Bukele's authoritarianism: mass incarcerations, journalist exiles, and spyware use, even as approval ratings soar from anti-gang measures.

The good and the bad

Back to the economic part and the results unfulfilled promises, like Bitcoin City and geothermal mining bonds, highlight execution gaps after over three years. But there are successes:

• Pioneer Status and Branding: Attracted global attention, enhancing Bukele's image and drawing crypto enthusiasts, leading to tourism and foreign direct investments spikes.
• Reserve Gains: BTC holdings have doubled in value, acting as a sovereign wealth tool amid price recovery.
• Innovation Spillovers: Paved way for AI integrations (e.g., xAI education partnership) and positioned El Salvador as a tech-forward nation in Latin America.
• IMF Softening: From criticism to praise, signaling that balanced crypto strategies can coexist with traditional finance.

Although, Failures and Criticisms arise too:

• Volatility and Stability Risks: BTC crashes caused fiscal losses and exclusion fears from global finance.
• Low Inclusion: Failed to significantly boost financial access or cut remittance costs as hoped.
• Environmental/Social Costs: Infrastructure pursuits harm ecosystems and displace vulnerable populations.
• International Pressure: IMF conditions forced partial retreats, highlighting sovereignty trade-offs.

Lessons Learned from El Salvador's Experiment

El Salvador's bold move teaches several critical lessons for global crypto adoption:

1. Volatility Hinders Everyday Use: BTC's price swings make it unsuitable as a primary medium of exchange in economies needing stability. Developing nations, especially dollarized ones, face amplified risks from crypto's immaturity. Stablecoins or hybrid systems might bridge this gap, as seen in growing stablecoin markets for cross-border efficiency.

2. Store of Value Potential is Strong: As reserves, BTC has proven profitable for long-term holding like a digital gold. El Salvador's gains demonstrate how nations can leverage it for sovereign wealth, especially with DCA strategies during dips. This aligns with trends like U.S. discussions on BTC reserves or Japan's ETF paths.

3. Balance Innovation with Pragmatism: Full legal tender status invites resistance and external pressure; voluntary adoption and IMF compliance allowed continuation without derailing growth. Nations must integrate crypto with existing systems, not replace them abruptly.

4. Environmental and Social Trade-Offs Matter: Crypto mining and infrastructure can exacerbate ecological damage in vulnerable regions, demanding sustainable approaches like El Salvador's geothermal plans (though delayed). Equity is key—benefits must reach the masses, not just elites.

5. Political Context Influences Outcomes: Bukele's popularity from security gains amplified the experiment's visibility, but authoritarian elements raise ethical questions about crypto in non-democratic settings. Technology amplifies power, so governance matters.

Overall, the experiment shows crypto's transformative potential but highlights the need for measured steps. As of 2026, it's evolving into a hybrid model: less emphasis on payments, more on reserves and tech synergies like AI.
In conclusion, countries should focus on BTC as a Store of Value and Reserves instead as Medium of Payment/Legal Currency. That is what El Salvador's Bitcoin experiment teach us.

Image made with Grok