El Salvador's central bank announced a $50 million addition to its gold reserves, acquiring 9,298 troy ounces in January 2026. That purchase raises the country's reported gold holdings to 67,403 ounces, valued at roughly $360 million at current prices. The announcement was shared on X and reposted by President Nayib Bukele with the comment, "We just bought the other dip."
El Salvador's Central Bank Expands Gold Reserves
The central bank said the recent operation added 9,298 troy ounces of gold to official reserves, a step that brings total gold holdings to 67,403 ounces. Valued at about $360 million at current prices, the move was presented as part of the country's reserve management. Whether the purchase is primarily a hedge, a diversification move, or a timing decision was not specified in the announcement.
Continuing Bitcoin Accumulation
Separately, Arkham data showed that the government added one bitcoin on January 29, 2026, consistent with the administration's stated practice of daily purchases. That addition brings the nation's reported bitcoin stack to 7,547 BTC, which the report values at about $635 million at a price just above $84,000 per coin. The bitcoin buys and the gold purchase were reported close together, underlining simultaneous accumulation across asset types.
Government's Dual Reserve Strategy
The two moves together reflect a reserve mix that now includes both significant gold and bitcoin holdings. President Bukele's repost — "We just bought the other dip." — framed the gold purchase in terms familiar to crypto investors, while Arkham's ledger confirmed the continuation of bitcoin buys. Together, these actions illustrate a policy of holding both traditional and digital assets on the government's balance sheet.
Why this matters
For a miner operating in Russia with anywhere from a single rig to hundreds, this news shows how one government is deliberately combining gold and bitcoin in reserves. The direct operational impact on your day-to-day mining is likely limited, but the story matters because it signals a policy choice to keep buying bitcoin even while adding traditional assets like gold. That approach can influence market narratives and investor attention, which in turn can affect liquidity and price movements in broader markets.
What to do?
If you mine with a small to medium setup, keep these simple checks in mind to stay prepared: follow basic risk management, monitor your electricity and maintenance costs, and avoid reacting to single announcements without context. For larger operators, maintain clear accounting for assets converted or held, and review whether to rebalance any on-site coin holdings versus selling to cover operational expenses.
- Track market prices and your break-even electricity rate so you can decide whether to hold or sell mined coins.
- Keep records of any on-site BTC holdings and separate operational cashflows from reserve-style holdings.
- Consider diversifying where you convert mined coins into fiat or into other stores of value to reduce single-asset exposure.
For background on how governments and large holders balance physical metals and crypto, see a comparison of digital and precious-metal stores of value in Bitcoin vs silver and gold. For context on systematic bitcoin buying as a policy or strategy, review examples of organized purchase routines in buying bitcoin ritual, which can help you understand how repeated small purchases add up over time.
