IMF waives El Salvador's Bitcoin breach and releases $138 million
The IMF waived El Salvador's breach of a Bitcoin accumulation limit and released SDR 101.96 million, about $138 million, after the second and third reviews of its $1.4 billion programme.
Why it matters
El Salvador keeps access to a $1.4 billion IMF programme while the restriction on state Bitcoin purchases stays in force, so the reserve is preserved but cannot grow from public funds. CryptoSlate reports that the next reviews will turn on reserve transparency, the Chivo unwind and whether new additions can be documented, and no source reports any move by the IMF to force divestment.
Where the sources disagree
Size of the IMF disbursement
SDR 101.96 million, about $138 million
Crypto.News, Bitcoin.com News, The Defiant, Cointelegraph, CryptoPotato, CryptoSlate
$139 million, as reported by Bloomberg
Crypto.News, Crypto News (CryptoNews.net), Bitcoin Insider
Most outlets convert SDR 101.96 million into about $138 million, while Bloomberg's figure and the outlets repeating it say $139 million.
Key facts
The IMF Executive Board completed the second and third reviews under El Salvador's 40-month Extended Fund Facility on 1 October, a programme approved in a $1.4 billion arrangement.
1,400,000,000 USDReported by Crypto.News
The IMF released SDR 101.96 million, which the fund's stated conversion puts at about $138 million, though Bloomberg reported the payout as $139 million.
138,000,000 USDDisputed figureReported by Crypto.News
The board granted waivers for missed performance criteria, including the condition on Bitcoin accumulation, after corrective measures and renewed commitments from El Salvador.
Reported by Crypto.News
The IMF said no further Bitcoin accumulation is envisaged beyond documented donations under the programme.
Reported by Crypto.News
Outlets report El Salvador's Bitcoin reserve between over 7,600 BTC and 7,794.37 BTC, with valuations from about $500 million to about $666.1 million.
Disputed figureReported by Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
El Salvador recorded recent Bitcoin additions as private donations with no direct public resources, and Bitcoin.com News put the resulting reserve at 7,792 BTC.
7,792 BTCReported by Crypto.News
Majority ownership and operational control of the government Chivo wallet moved to a private operator, and the IMF wants the state's remaining Chivo exposure fully unwound.
Reported by Crypto.News
The IMF projects El Salvador's economy will grow 4.5% in 2026 and 4% in 2027.
4.5 %Reported by Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
What happened
The IMF's Executive Board completed the second and third reviews of El Salvador's $1.4 billion, 40-month Extended Fund Facility on 1 October and released SDR 101.96 million, which the fund's stated conversion puts at about $138 million. Cointelegraph, CryptoPotato, CryptoSlate, Bitcoin.com News and The Defiant all report $138 million, while Bloomberg reported $139 million, a figure Crypto.News and Crypto News also carry. The board found several performance criteria unmet, including one covering Bitcoin accumulation, and granted waivers after what the IMF called strong corrective measures and renewed commitments from Salvadoran authorities. The IMF said no further Bitcoin accumulation is envisaged beyond documented donations, and that efforts will continue to reduce the state's involvement in Bitcoin-related activity, strengthen crypto-asset regulation and governance and improve transparency on public-sector holdings; The Defiant reports the fund also wants the state's remaining Chivo exposure fully unwound. Reserve estimates differ: Bitcoin.com News puts holdings at 7,792 BTC, CryptoSlate at 7,794.37 BTC worth about $666.1 million, and Crypto News at over 7,600 BTC worth about $500 million. CryptoSlate notes that additions to government-linked wallets appear inconsistent with the IMF agreement and that the Fund has drawn a distinction between donated and publicly funded Bitcoin.
How the story developed
- Official statement
IMF board completes two reviews and grants Bitcoin-related waivers
The Executive Board finished the second and third reviews under the 40-month Extended Fund Facility and released SDR 101.96 million.
- First report
First report by Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
IMF Grants Waiver to El Salvador Amid Bitcoin Adoption
- Update
First reports of the waiver and payout
Outlets reported the disbursement and the Bitcoin accumulation waiver, with figures split between $138 million and $139 million.
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by Crypto.News
El Salvador gets $138M after IMF waives Bitcoin rule breach
- Correction
Payout figure divergence flagged in coverage
Reporting notes the same tranche was described as $138 million by one outlet and $139 million by another, with Bloomberg cited for the higher number.
- Official statement
Official statement from Bitcoin.com News
IMF Waives El Salvador’s Bitcoin Breach to Unlock $138M Payout
- Update
Reserve additions and Chivo privatisation presented as corrective action
Bitcoin.com News reported a reserve of 7,792 BTC built through private donations and the Chivo handover as evidence of corrective measures.
- Update
IMF demand for a full Chivo unwind reported
The Defiant reported the fund wants the state's remaining Chivo exposure fully unwound.
- Update
Reserve value and consistency of wallet additions questioned
CryptoSlate put the reserve at about 7,794.37 BTC worth roughly $666.1 million and said additions to government-linked wallets appear inconsistent with the IMF agreement.
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 2 Oct 2026, 04:48 UTC: Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 04:57 UTC: Crypto.News — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 06:36 UTC: Bitcoin Insider — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 10:30 UTC: Bitcoin.com News, official — 4 independent sources, 4 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 17:17 UTC: The Defiant — 5 independent sources, 5 reports
- 4 Oct 2026, 09:39 UTC: Cointelegraph — 6 independent sources, 6 reports
- 4 Oct 2026, 20:01 UTC: CryptoPotato — 7 independent sources, 7 reports
- 5 Oct 2026, 00:00 UTC: CryptoSlate — 8 independent sources, 8 reports
Affected entities
Original sources
| Publisher | Report | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin.com News Company, official | IMF Waives El Salvador’s Bitcoin Breach to Unlock $138M Payout | Independent | |
| Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) Aggregator | IMF Grants Waiver to El Salvador Amid Bitcoin Adoption | Original | |
| Cointelegraph Crypto media | El Salvador receives $138 million from IMF after Bitcoin waivers granted | Independent | |
| The Defiant Crypto media | IMF Approves $138 Million for El Salvador After Bitcoin Waiver | Independent | |
| CryptoSlate Crypto media | El Salvador’s $666 million Bitcoin reserve survives IMF review | Independent | |
| Crypto.News Crypto media | El Salvador gets $138M after IMF waives Bitcoin rule breach | Independent | |
| CryptoPotato Crypto media | IMF Approves $138M for El Salvador After Bitcoin Accumulation Waiver | Independent | |
| Bitcoin Insider Aggregator | IMF Waives Bitcoin Breach, Clears Up to $139M Disbursement to El Salvador | Syndicated | |
| Bitcoin Insider Aggregator | IMF Review Leaves El Salvador’s $666 Million Bitcoin Reserve Intact | Syndicated |
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