El Salvador is the first country in the world to formally allow bitcoin as legal tender after Congress approved President Nayib Bukele's proposal to embrace the cryptocurrency.
Despite concern about the potential impact on El Salvador's program with the International Monetary Fund, with 62 out of 84 possible votes, a majority of lawmakers voted in favour of the initiative to create a law that will formally adopt bitcoin, news agency Reuters reported.
According to Cnbctv, President Bukele has touted the use of Bitcoin for its potential to help Salvadorans living abroad to send remittances back home. He added that the US dollar will also continue as legal tender.
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"It will bring financial inclusion, investment, tourism, innovation, and economic development for our country," Bukele said in a tweet shortly before the vote in Congress, which is controlled by his party and allies.
He added that the use of bitcoin will be optional and will not bring risks to users. "The government will guarantee the convertibility to the exact value in dollars at the moment of each transaction," Bukele said.
As per the World Bank data, remittances to the country made up nearly $6 billion or around a fifth of GDP in 2019, one of the highest ratios in the world. Experts have said the move to bitcoin could complicate talks with the IMF, where El Salvador is seeking a more than $1 billion program.
