TL;DR
- El Salvador buys 9,298 troy ounces of gold (~$50M), raising total reserves to 67,403 ounces.
- The purchase reflects a diversification strategy combining traditional gold with Bitcoin holdings.
- The Central Bank labels gold a universal strategic asset against macroeconomic uncertainty.
El Salvador acquired 9,298 troy ounces of gold valued at approximately $50 million, as confirmed by the country’s Central Reserve Bank (BCR). The purchase represents the second operation of this kind since 1990 and occurs in a context where precious metal prices reach historical levels.
The transaction raises the Central American nation’s total gold reserves to 67,403 troy ounces. In September 2025, El Salvador executed a similar purchase by acquiring 13,999 ounces of the yellow metal for an equivalent amount. The BCR justified the decision by cataloging gold as a “universal strategic reserve asset” that protects against structural changes in global markets.
Bitcoin and Gold Coexist in Salvadoran Strategy
The Salvadoran government currently holds 7,547 BTC in its coffers, with an approximate value of $635 million. The figure positions the country as one of the few governments incorporating cryptocurrencies into its national balance sheet. However, the recent bet on gold demonstrates an asset diversification approach that combines traditional instruments with emerging financial technology.
The purchase occurs while Bitcoin fell below $82,000 and the crypto market registered liquidations of $1.75 billion in the past 24 hours. The contrast illustrates the inherent volatility of digital assets versus the relative stability of gold.
The BCR emphasized that the precious metal strengthens investor and citizen confidence during times of macroeconomic uncertainty. Current geopolitical risks and eroding confidence in conventional financial systems accelerate global demand for gold.
Poland announced plans to expand its reserves to 700 tonnes, while China increased its purchases aggressively. According to Goldman Sachs estimates, the Asian giant accumulates quantities far superior to officially reported figures.
El Salvador bets on a hybrid model that seeks to capture the benefits of both worlds: the liquidity and technological projection of Bitcoin alongside the proven security of gold as a value refuge during prolonged financial crises.
