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An independent guide written by Darya Melnik, consultant at BRIDGES. Not a government website.

Paying the El Salvador Donation in Bitcoin or USDt: Source of Funds and Rules

By Darya Melnik · Updated · Facts checked against the sources listed below

The bare cone of the Izalco volcano in El Salvador seen from above

In El Salvador the question is not only how much you pay but in what. The official portal names two assets: bitcoin (BTC) and the stablecoin USDt. Here is what I tell families who are preparing the transfer.

Why the payment is in crypto

El Salvador adopted its Bitcoin Law in 2021, and Decree 918 of 2023 refers to it in its recitals. The citizenship programme was built around this policy. The Bitcoin Country site of the government presents the programme as a contribution to a government development fund. Both the USD 999 fee and the USD 999,001 after approval are paid in BTC or USDt.

BTC or USDt

The amount is set in dollars. With USDt the number of coins you send is close to the dollar amount. With BTC the number of coins depends on the price on the day of the transfer. I could not find an official rule on which exchange rate is used for BTC, so I ask the programme for the exact amount and the wallet address in writing just before paying. Network fees are on you.

The origin of the funds

The USD 999 pays for the evaluation of the application. The sources I read do not publish a checklist for crypto, so I prepare the same file I would for any serious programme:

  • statements from the exchanges where the coins were bought;
  • the wallet history up to the wallet you pay from;
  • the origin of the money used to buy the crypto, such as salary, a sale of a business or dividends;
  • tax returns where the gains were declared.

A clean story with documents matters more than the amount.

The Bitcoin Law in 2025

BRIDGES writes that Decree 199 of 30 January 2025 made accepting bitcoin voluntary for businesses. Article 5 stayed, so bitcoin exchanges are not subject to capital gains tax. I did not verify the decree on an official page and mark these details as unconfirmed.

Sunset over the Pacific on the coast of El Salvador, with mountains on the horizon

Taxes

According to the BRIDGES Passport Index, personal income tax goes up to 30%, there is no inheritance tax and foreign income is not taxed. Citizenship alone does not make you a tax resident. Tax residence depends on where you live, so I recommend a separate tax adviser in your country.

A practical sequence

  1. Collect the documents on the origin of the crypto.
  2. Pay the USD 999 from a wallet you can document.
  3. After approval, ask for the exact amount and address in writing.
  4. Transfer the USD 999,001 and keep the transaction IDs.

The cost guide has the full list of fees.

Questions and answers

Can I pay by bank transfer in dollars?

The official portal names only BTC and USDt for the USD 999 fee and the rest of the donation.

Do I need to prove where my crypto came from?

Plan for it. The USD 999 fee pays for the evaluation of the application, and I prepare the origin of the crypto as carefully as for any other programme.

Is bitcoin still legal tender in El Salvador?

BRIDGES writes that Decree 199 of 30 January 2025 made accepting bitcoin voluntary and kept article 5, under which bitcoin exchanges are not subject to capital gains tax. I did not check this on an official page.

What are the taxes in El Salvador?

The BRIDGES index lists up to 30%, no inheritance tax and no tax on foreign income. These figures are not confirmed in official sources on this site.

Sources

Checked on 28 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm them with the official sources before you file anything.