El Salvador’s Bitcoin Wallet Is Used by More Than Half a Million People, President Says

The president also addressed the technical errors that blighted the first few days of El Salvador’s adoption of bitcoin as legal tender.

AccessTimeIconSep 14, 2021 at 12:28 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 4:33 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

More than half a million people in El Salvador are using the country’s bitcoin wallet following adoption of the cryptocurrency as legal tender on Sept. 7, President Nayib Bukele said.

  • The Salvadoran government developed the Chivo wallet alongside Mexico-based crypto exchange Bitso to enable citizens to spend and receive crypto.
  • “We currently have more than half a million users,” President Bukele tweeted on Monday. El Salvador has a population of almost 6.5 million people.
  • The president also addressed the technical errors that blighted the first few days of El Salvador’s adoption of bitcoin as legal tender.
  • Chivo’s technical errors are “95% corrected,” he tweeted, with expectation that the software would be fully operational within the coming days.


Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

Jamie Crawley

Jamie Crawley is a CoinDesk news reporter based in London.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.