El Salvador has stepped up its commitment to alternative reserve assets by purchasing $50 million worth of gold and continuing its daily Bitcoin accumulation, reinforcing its strategy to diversify national reserves.
Quick Summary – TLDR:
- El Salvador’s central bank bought $50 million of gold, boosting total holdings to 67,403 ounces.
- The government added one more Bitcoin, keeping with President Bukele’s one-a-day pledge.
- The nation now holds 7,547 Bitcoin worth over $619 million.
- These moves reflect El Salvador’s push to hedge against global financial volatility with gold and cryptocurrency.
What Happened?
El Salvador’s central bank made headlines this week with a fresh $50 million gold purchase, adding 9,298 troy ounces to its reserves. At the same time, the government continued its routine acquisition of Bitcoin, adding a single coin and bringing the national total to 7,547. Both moves underscore the country’s commitment to building a long-term alternative asset base amid ongoing global economic uncertainties.
El Salvador is adding more Bitcoin to their national reserves every single day, no matter the price 🇸🇻
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) January 29, 2026
Respect 🫡 pic.twitter.com/yy8SM1IvFh
El Salvador Builds Up Its Bullion Reserves
The Central Reserve Bank (BCR) of El Salvador announced the gold purchase on January 30, marking its second $50 million gold buy in recent months. The latest acquisition boosts the country’s total gold reserves to 67,403 troy ounces, now valued at approximately $360 million based on current market prices.
According to the central bank, this move aims to “strengthen the country’s long-term assets while maintaining a prudent balance in the composition of the International Reserves.” The bank also described gold as a “universally strategic reserve asset” that enhances both investor and citizen confidence while shielding the economy from structural shifts in global markets.
Though no official targets for future gold acquisitions were outlined, this second purchase shows a clear momentum toward building up hard assets as part of the country’s reserve strategy.
Bitcoin Accumulation Continues
In tandem with its gold push, the El Salvador government kept up its ongoing Bitcoin buying streak, adding one more coin on the same day. This continues President Nayib Bukele’s public pledge to buy one Bitcoin per day, a policy that has helped gradually grow the country’s digital asset treasury.
On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence confirmed the latest transaction and revealed that recent Bitcoin purchases ranged from $84,000 to $95,000, showing that El Salvador has been buying at various price points over the past two weeks.
As of now, the national Bitcoin stash stands at 7,547 coins, worth approximately $619 million at a market price of around $82,000. Though Bitcoin’s price has recently dipped, the country seems committed to its long-term HODL strategy.
Global Gold Buying Trend
El Salvador’s increased interest in gold mirrors a broader global shift. The precious metal has rallied nearly 20 percent year to date, driven by growing geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainties. Other countries are following suit.
For example:
- Poland’s central bank announced plans to raise its gold reserves to 700 tons.
- China continues to discreetly add to its gold holdings, with its 14th consecutive monthly purchase recorded in December.
This global movement signals a retreat from traditional fiat reserves and a greater reliance on hard assets as financial hedges.
SQ Magazine’s Takeaway
I think El Salvador is making a bold but fascinating move here. Doubling down on both gold and Bitcoin is not something we see every day from a national government. It shows they’re not just riding a crypto trend, but actually thinking long term about financial independence and economic resilience. Whether it pays off or not, Bukele is forcing the world to rethink what a modern reserve strategy can look like.
