CABEI Lends assistance to EL Salvador for Bitcoin Adoption

• Anshika Bhalla
• June 16, 2021

On Monday, 14th June, the head of the multinational development bank, CABEI (Central American Bank for Economic Integration), announced that the bank would provide technical assistance for the implementation of Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador.

In the Monday press conference, The executive President of the Central American Bank For Economic Integration, Dante Mossi, said the development bank is looking forward to collaborating with the finance ministry of EL Salvador for the selection of a technical team to carry out a successful bitcoin implementation process.

Mossi admitted at the Monday press conference that the Government of El Salvador was actively looking for assistance from the financial institution to allow a proper enactment of Bitcoin as a legal tender in the country. 

Mossi seemed pleased while delivering the message to EL Salvador’s government and the President that how proud he feels that the Central American Bank for Economic Integration came out to be the first choice of President Bukele and the Government authorities of El Salvador. Further, Mossi brought up the point that there is no other country in the world that has adopted Bitcoin cryptocurrency as widely as this country has done. He said, protecting public privacy is a big challenge today, and to overcome this, we must choose the most efficient method.

Mossi gave out some details about the formation of the technical advisory team of the bank that would involve CABEI members, the ministry of finance and central bank officials from EL Salvador. 

The development bank also aims at helping in project planning and providing navigation assistance regarding the legal aspects of Bitcoin implementation as the legal currency of El Salvador.

Challenges in Bitcoin Adoption 

Last week, El Salvador turned into the first country to receive Bitcoin as a legal tender after Congress authorized President Nayib Bukele’s recommendation to accept the cryptocurrency.

Early this month, after El Salvador collaborated with digital wallet company “Strike” to foster the country’s advanced financial framework utilizing Bitcoin technology, President Bukele presented the bill to Congress.

After a couple of days, El Salvador’s President Bukele reported that bitcoin mining would be carried out under the nation’s state-run geothermal energy utility by employing power produced from volcanoes. The declaration was made only a few hours later, the Central American country’s CongressCongress cast a ballot to make the crypto a plausible legal tender.

Still, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cautioned El Salvador about the dangers of utilizing cryptocurrency for everyday exchanges. An IMF group planned to meet with the President of El Salvador as the worldwide association reflected upon another aid package for the country during its recuperation from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s President disclosed that he was in touch with the IMF and expressed that he would clarify the operations comprehensively and the situation with the economy regarding how the currency functions as a legal tender in the country.

Conclusion 

President Bukele promises a robust selection of experts from CABEI would be made for effective risk assessment, investment plan, financial education, and regulation. CABEI, on the other hand, seems to be equally invested.