Source: Cointelegraph Original: "{title}"
On April 14, 2025, U.S. President Trump hosted Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele at the White House, with discussions focusing on trade and immigration issues, although Bitcoin was not included in the public agenda.
Immigration issues and bilateral security cooperation became the main topics during Bukele's first official visit to the White House in Trump's second term.
According to a live broadcast shared by Bukele's office via the X platform, Trump mentioned the possibility of transferring convicted American citizens to prisons in El Salvador and urged Bukele to expand El Salvador's prison system to accommodate more inmates. Trump stated, "I said, the next step is domestic criminals. You need to build five more places."
Source: Nayib Bukele
Since the Trump administration took office, the U.S. has deported hundreds of individuals suspected of foreign crimes to El Salvador under a $6 million agreement between the two countries.
Trump also discussed the trade war initiated by his administration on April 2, hinting at possible temporary exemptions for automakers aimed at alleviating transitional issues in their supply chains.
After the meeting, Trump told reporters, "I am considering some measures to help auto companies solve their problems," adding that the U.S. auto industry "needs a little time" to relocate production lines back to the country.
The meeting did not address digital asset and Bitcoin policies, which should have been hallmark initiatives of both presidents' administrations.
El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, becoming the first country in the world to implement a Bitcoin strategic reserve approach, a move later followed by the Trump administration.
Trump positioned himself as a pro-cryptocurrency candidate in the 2024 election. On March 6, 2023, Trump signed an executive order aimed at creating a Bitcoin strategic reserve and digital asset inventory.
As of March, the U.S. held nearly 198,000 Bitcoins, valued at over $17 billion at current prices. This reserve primarily consists of Bitcoins seized in criminal and civil cases, including a significant amount from the Silk Road and Bitfinex hacking cases.
El Salvador's Bitcoin plan faces IMF opposition
In December 2023, El Salvador signed a $1.4 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which included commitments to eliminate Bitcoin-related initiatives and reduce the public sector's association with digital assets.
Although the Salvadoran Congress amended the Bitcoin law in January to comply with the agreement's requirements, the government continues to purchase Bitcoin daily. According to tracking data from the country's National Bitcoin Office, El Salvador currently holds 6,147.18 Bitcoins, valued at approximately $520.7 million at current prices.
Related: Bitwise: Bitcoin held by public companies rose 16% in the first quarter.
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