El Salvador set to roll out Bitcoin banks amid growing national BTC stockpile

Key Takeaways

• El Salvador may soon introduce Bitcoin banks, further expanding its commitment to crypto adoption.
• Specific details regarding the timeline or structure of the Bitcoin banks were not disclosed in the announcement.

El Salvador may be on the verge of launching its first Bitcoin banks, the National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC), the government body promoting the country’s Bitcoin strategy, has revealed.

Specifics about those banks have not been disclosed, though the National Bitcoin Office says they will be announced soon. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has offered no statement so far.

This comes after the government of El Salvador proposed a reform to establish a private investment bank, facilitating operations in both Bitcoin and the US dollar. The initiative, aimed at expanding financing options for sophisticated investors, would enable the bank to offer deposits, lending, and other services denominated in BTC.

The proposal, which requires the bank to have a minimum capital of $50 million and permits foreign shareholders, also seeks to loosen regulations for private banks handling digital assets and Bitcoin services.

The anticipated rollout would be in line with the country’s BTC strategy, which already includes making Bitcoin legal tender, building national reserves, and attracting crypto investment.

El Salvador’s Bitcoin holdings keep growing despite skepticism from crypto circles over how the country is expanding its national BTC stockpile under an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), especially when finance officials confirmed that the country has made no new Bitcoin purchases since February 2025.

The Central American nation currently holds 6,262 BTC, valued at over $730 million at current market prices, according to data from Arkham Intelligence.