El Salvador is expanding its national treasury through asset diversification, combining traditional havens with digital innovation. The Central Reserve Bank (BCR) reported acquiring 9,298 troy ounces of gold in the international market. This equates to approximately US$50 million.
The purchase, which took place in January, was equivalent to nearly 300 kilograms of pure gold (289.21 kilograms to be exact) based on a standard conversion of 31.10 grams per troy ounce. This movement occurs in a situation of high volatility in the metal. It recently crossed the $5,000/oz barrier.
The BCR operation is the agency’s second such purchase since 1990. This move increased total holdings of the metal from 58,105 troy ounces to 67,403 troy ounces between September 2025 and January 2026.
In terms of money, The total estimated value of these gold reserves currently amounts to US$360 million.
President Nayib Bukele commented on the operation through social networks, pointing out that: They were purchased to take advantage of the drop in prices (bought on the spur of the moment).
This acquisition comes after gold reached an all-time high (ATH) of USD 5,596, then fell to USD 4,950 and then rebounded towards the USD 5,080 per ounce level, as seen in the chart below.
CriptoNoticias reported this week that the precious metal broke through the $5,000 barrier, anticipating “huge bullish potential for Bitcoin” such a rally is a product of recurring patterns in the monetary system.
El Salvador’s BCR stressed that the strategy aims to protect the local economy from structural changes in the international market. Gold currently accounts for about 20% of the world’s central bank reserves. It ranks as the second most important reserve asset after the US dollar.
Bitcoin: A pillar of El Salvador’s digital reserves
Despite the remarkable increase in gold holdings, the Salvadoran government has not diverted its attention from Bitcoin (BTC), the most important digital asset on the market.
According to official data on the government portal, the country maintains its policy of acquiring one Bitcoin every day, strengthening its reserves, which have already reached 7,547.37 units of the digital currency.
The above shows that even though gold provides traditional financial stability, Bitcoin remains the central axis of the Central American country’s economic policy.
But El Salvador is enhancing its long-term vision through hybrid protected areas. Combining the ancient essence of gold with the programmed scarcity of Bitcoin. With this, the country seeks to protect its economy from global uncertainties and inflationary pressures from fiat currencies.
(Tag Translation) Central Bank
