El Salvador’s Bitcoin Bet Is Working, Finance Minister Says

July 28, 2022, 2:01 PM UTC

El Salvador’s finance minister defended the country’s strategy to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender even as critics urge the nation to ditch the experiment as the cryptocurrency world suffers through a bear market.

Almost a year into the country’s bet on Bitcoin, Alejandro Zelaya said the digital currency has brought financial services to a largely unbanked population and attracted tourism and investments. While its use as a means of exchange is low, he said he remains a believer in digital money and added the government is still planning to issue a Bitcoin-backed bond using blockchain technology.

“For some, it’s something ...

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