El Salvador ends mandatory Bitcoin acceptance for merchants

El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly has amended its Bitcoin Law, making it optional for merchants to accept Bitcoin as payment. 

This change aligns with conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for a $1.4 billion loan aimed at bolstering the nation’s economy.

El Salvador made history in September 2021 by becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin ( BTC ) as legal tender alongside the U.S. dollar. The initiative, championed by President Nayib Bukele , sought to enhance financial inclusion and stimulate economic growth. 

However, the requirement for all businesses to accept Bitcoin faced criticism due to the cryptocurrency’s price volatility and the population’s limited understanding of digital currencies.

No more mandatory Bitcoin acceptance

The recent legislative reform addresses these concerns by allowing businesses to choose whether to accept Bitcoin, according to Yahoo.

Additionally, the government will no longer accept Bitcoin for tax payments and plans to reduce its involvement in Bitcoin-related activities, including scaling back the use of the state-sponsored Chivo Wallet app.

These adjustments were pivotal in securing the IMF loan, which aims to stabilize El Salvador’s economy. The IMF had previously expressed apprehension about El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption, citing risks to financial stability and consumer protection. 

By making Bitcoin acceptance voluntary and limiting government participation, El Salvador seeks to address these concerns while retaining Bitcoin’s legal status.