El Salvador made a remarkable choice in its reserve policy at a time when global uncertainties increased. The country’s central bank announced that it purchased gold worth approximately 50 million dollars. The purchase was made at a time when gold prices were near historical highs and sharp liquidations were taking place in the cryptocurrency market. The development shows that El Salvador is seeking to balance its Bitcoin-focused financial strategy with traditional reserve instruments.
Rare Increase in El Salvador’s Gold Reserves
The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR) purchased 9,298 troy ounces of gold in 2026, increasing the country’s total gold reserves to 67,403 troy ounces. This transaction, worth approximately $50 million, was recorded as the bank’s second gold purchase since 1990. The previous purchase of 13,999 troy ounces made in September 2025 corresponded to a similar amount.
In the evaluation made by BCR, gold was defined as a strategic reserve tool on a universal scale. In the statement, it was emphasized that gold supports long-term financial stability, provides protection against structural changes in global markets and creates an element of confidence in both investors and the public.
The fact that gold prices have increased by approximately 20 percent since the beginning of the year made the timing of the purchase even more remarkable. Macroeconomic uncertainties, geopolitical risks and loss of confidence in traditional financial systems are driving central banks back to physical assets.
Bitcoin Strategy Continues to Comply with the Global Trend
Purchasing gold does not mean El Salvador is abandoning its Bitcoin policy. According to the country’s official Bitcoin Office data, there are 7,547 BTC in the El Salvador treasury and the total value of these assets is approximately 635 million dollars. In the same period, while the Bitcoin price fell below $ 82,000, there was a liquidation of $ 1.75 billion in the crypto market in the last 24 hours.
Holding traditional and cryptocurrencies together indicates an approach based on reserve diversification. Bitcoin positions El Salvador as an innovative financial laboratory on a global scale, while gold acts as a counterbalance with its lower volatility.
El Salvador’s choice is part of an accelerating trend globally. While the Central Bank of Poland announced its goal of increasing its gold reserves to 700 tons, there are estimates that China is also purchasing gold intensively beyond the official figures. On the corporate side, it is stated that Tether will add approximately 27 tons of gold by the end of 2025 and the demand for tokenized gold products is increasing rapidly.
