The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR) purchased 9,298 troy ounces of gold, valued at approximately $50 million, to strengthen its international reserves.
The acquisition brings the nation’s total gold holdings to 67,403 ounces, worth roughly $360 million at current market prices.
Despite recent legal amendments making Bitcoin acceptance voluntary to satisfy IMF loan conditions, the government continues its 1 BTC per day accumulation strategy.
The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador has executed a $50 million gold purchase, marking a significant step in the nation’s strategy to diversify its sovereign assets. According to official data from the BCR, the bank acquired 9,298 troy ounces of the precious metal, pushing the total value of the country’s gold stash to approximately $360 million. The move reflects a broader trend among global central banks to hedge against macroeconomic volatility through “hard” assets.
This latest purchase follows a period of strategic rebalancing for the Salvadoran treasury. While the country made headlines in late 2025 for its first major gold acquisition in decades, this new tranche signals a sustained commitment to traditional reserve assets. President Nayib Bukele, a vocal proponent of Bitcoin, acknowledged the move on social media, framing the acquisition as a way to maintain a “prudent balance” within the nation’s portfolio.
“This acquisition represents a long-term positioning, based on a prudent balance in the composition of the assets that make up the country’s international reserves,” the BCR stated in a release. The bank emphasized that gold remains a “universally strategic asset” that helps protect the local economy from structural changes in international markets.
The pivot toward gold comes at a delicate time for El Salvador’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). To secure a $1.4 billion loan agreement, the Salvadoran government recently passed legislative reforms that scaled back the mandatory nature of Bitcoin use. Under the new framework, private businesses are no longer required to accept the cryptocurrency, and tax payments are prioritized in U.S. dollars. However, the government has not abandoned its digital asset ambitions.
On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence confirms that El Salvador’s national treasury continues to add one bitcoin per day to its reserves, in line with Bukele’s 2022 pledge. As of late January 2026, the national strategic Bitcoin reserve holds approximately 7,547 BTC, valued at over $635 million. The dual-track strategy of holding both gold and Bitcoin appears designed to satisfy international lenders while maintaining a high-upside bet on the digital asset economy.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
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