TL;DR
- A survey reveals Nayib Bukele’s approval rating reaches 91.9%, solidifying his political standing.
- Only 2.2% of respondents identify Bitcoin as the government’s biggest failure, highlighting a disconnect from citizen priorities.
- Daily Bitcoin adoption remains low, but the government persists with its strategy, maintaining its daily BTC purchase.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s popularity reaches a new high according to a recent survey from La Prensa Gráfica. The leader obtained 91.9% approval, a figure that consolidates his political position in the Central American nation. Of the 1,200 people consulted, nearly two-thirds expressed strong support for his administration, while barely 1.8% showed strong disapproval.
The numbers reflect a clear reality: Salvadoran citizens back Bukele, but not necessarily for his Bitcoin bet. The cryptocurrency, adopted as legal tender in 2021, occupies a marginal place among public concerns. Only 2.2% of respondents identified Bitcoin as the government’s biggest failure, a percentage that confirms the disconnect between official crypto policy and citizen priorities.
The president responded to the survey with his usual sarcastic tone on social media, mocking the reduced size of the opposition. The reaction shows the confidence Bukele maintains against his critics, backed by figures that few Latin American leaders can display.
Security explains the Bukele phenomenon
The true driver of presidential popularity lies in public safety improvements. Since taking office in 2019, Bukele implemented drastic measures against the gangs that plagued the country. The construction of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) represents the most visible face of the strategy. The prison, designed to house suspected organized crime members, forms part of a hard-line plan that considerably reduced homicide rates.
Salvadoran citizens report greater peace in their daily lives. Streets once controlled by criminal groups now allow free movement. Businesses operate without constant extortion. Families go out without the fear that characterized previous decades. The transformation of the security environment exceeded initial expectations and changed international perception about El Salvador.
For most Salvadorans, living without daily violence matters more than any economic or technological experiment. The contrast between global media attention to Bitcoin and local indifference proves revealing.
Bitcoin adoption by the population remained limited since implementation
In a TIME interview during 2024, Bukele himself admitted that daily use of the cryptocurrency did not reach the levels projected by the government. Salvadorans prefer traditional payment methods for their everyday transactions. The International Monetary Fund warned about possible financial risks associated with the country’s crypto strategy.
Despite lukewarm public reception and international criticism, El Salvador does not retreat from its bet. Government officials confirmed that the country buys one Bitcoin daily since 2022, a commitment Bukele promised to maintain.
Online trackers linked to the national Bitcoin Office show constant increases in reserves, even after El Salvador agreed to moderate some cryptocurrency-related programs as part of a $1.4 billion IMF deal.
