In a significant move, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has officially included Bitcoin in its global financial tracking system. This comes just weeks after the IMF urged El Salvador to scale back its Bitcoin adoption. The shift highlights the growing role of cryptocurrencies in international finance, even as institutions remain cautious about fully embracing them.
Bitcoin’s New Place in Global Finance
On March 20, the IMF released the latest edition of its Balance of Payments Manual (BPM7), introducing a framework to track digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and even NFTs. This marks the first time that cryptocurrencies have been included in the global financial reporting system, which central banks and financial authorities use to monitor capital flows and trade balances.
While the update doesn’t grant Bitcoin legal currency status, it establishes a structured way to measure its impact on the global economy. Until now, crypto transactions—estimated to be in the trillions—were inconsistently reported, making it difficult for regulators to assess their true economic significance.
BPM7 categorizes Bitcoin as a non-produced, non-financial asset, placing it alongside natural resources like land and spectrum rights. Other digital assets are classified based on their function: stablecoins as financial instruments, Ethereum and XRP as equity-like holdings, and staking rewards as service income or investment returns.
Bitcoin Reserves: U.S. and El Salvador Take Different Paths
This shift comes at a time when both the United States and El Salvador are making bold moves with Bitcoin, but in very different ways.
- The U.S. now officially holds Bitcoin in its federal reserves. President Trump recently signed an executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, ensuring that confiscated BTC remains under government control rather than being auctioned off. Estimates suggest that U.S. authorities currently hold around 200,000 BTC, seized through legal actions against darknet markets and fraud cases.
- El Salvador, on the other hand, continues to buy Bitcoin despite IMF pressure. The country now holds 6,125 BTC (worth over $538 million) and has been steadily accumulating more, despite signing a $1.4 billion IMF agreement that included recommendations to limit Bitcoin-related activities.
Why This Matters
With Bitcoin now formally accounted for in global financial reporting, governments may face increased pressure to clarify their stance on crypto. Whether countries choose to regulate, adopt, or resist Bitcoin, they will now have to measure its impact using IMF-endorsed standards. This could influence how Bitcoin is treated in trade policies, taxation, and even diplomatic agreements in the years ahead.
