El Salvador becomes first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender

El Salvador becomes first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender

El Salvador has become the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender after its congress approved President Nayib Bukele's proposal to embrace the cryptocurrency in an effort to promote “financial inclusion”, investment and economic development.

Bukele, a media-savvy former mayor of the capital, San Salvador, who was elected president in a landslide victory two years ago, is known for his love of technology and his fondness for attention-grabbing stunts.

Despite concerns the move could complicate talks with the IMF – in which El Salvador is seeking a financing programme worth more than $1bn – the two-page proposal was passed by congress late on Tuesday night with 62 of the assembly's 84 votes. The congress is controlled by the president's party and his allies.