7 Facts about El Salvador Buying USD 50 Million in Gold While Continuing to Add Bitcoin

Updated
January 30, 2026

Jakarta, Pintu News – The government of El Salvador is back in the spotlight of global financial markets after its central bank purchased USD 50 million worth of gold for the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The move comes amid the government’s continued policy of adding to its Bitcoin holdings as it seeks to stabilize the country’s asset portfolio in an era of global volatility. Investors in crypto and commodity markets need to understand the rationale and implications of this strategy, given the different nature of traditional gold and Bitcoin as a digital asset.

1. Gold Purchase of USD 50 Million

El Salvador’s central bank announced the purchase of USD 50 million worth of physical gold as part of its international reserves. This purchase equates to approximately 9,298 troy ounces of gold now held as part of the country’s assets. The value of the gold is now almost USD 360 million based on the latest market prices, indicating a significant exposure to precious metals in the reserves.

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2. Purpose of Reserve Diversification

The move is in line with the country’s international reserve diversification strategy, which has previously relied heavily on Bitcoin. Gold is considered a traditional safe-haven asset that can provide value protection against global market volatility and currency risk. This diversification also reflects prudent macro risk management for a small country whose economy is sensitive to fluctuations in digital asset prices.

3. Government Keeps Adding Bitcoin

In addition to gold purchases, El Salvador has also continued to add to its Bitcoin holdings as part of the government’s strategy. The latest on-chain data shows the government added another 1 BTC to its reserves, following its previously publicized daily purchase policy.
The total amount of Bitcoin held by the country now stands at 7,547 BTC, which at current Bitcoin prices is worth around USD 635 million.

4. The role of President Nayib Bukele

The policy is led by President Nayib Bukele, who is known as an early proponent of Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador since 2021. Bukele has positioned Bitcoin as part of the country’s digital economic identity, although public use in daily transactions remains relatively low. The move to add gold to reserves adds a new dimension to the country’s asset management strategy, which previously focused on cryptocurrencies.

5. Gold vs Bitcoin: Different Asset Characteristics

Gold has long been considered a classic safe-haven asset that is resistant to inflation and global market turmoil. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is seen as a high-risk asset with huge appreciation potential but high volatility. Combining these two strategies allows the government to strike a balance between long-term stability and exposure to the technological growth of digital assets.

6. Macro and Investment Implications

This reserve diversification could inspire other countries to consider a combination of gold and digital assets in their reserve portfolios. For investors, El Salvador’s actions underscore the importance of portfolio diversification at a macro level, especially in the face of global economic uncertainty. It also reflects the evolving relationship between traditional assets and digital financial innovations in global markets.

7. Risks and Challenges

While both gold and Bitcoin purchases offer potential diversification benefits, they also carry their own risks. Gold prices can be affected by movements in global interest rates and macro energy sentiment, while Bitcoin remains vulnerable to crypto market volatility. Careful risk management will spearhead the success of this kind of diversification strategy.

Also Read: 5 Important Insights Predicted SHIB Will Drop First Before Reaching New ATH

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*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities are subject to high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold hard cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling Bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

Reference

– CoinDesk via Pulse News. El Salvador’s Central Bank Buys $50 Million of Gold as Government Keeps Adding Bitcoin. Accessed January 30, 2026.

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