El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said that he will propose making Bitcoin a legal tender in the country, The Associated Press reported on Sunday.
“Next week I will send to Congress a bill that will make Bitcoin a legal tender in El Salvador,” Bukele said Saturday. “In the short term this will generate jobs and help provide financial inclusion to thousands outside the formal economy and in the medium and long term we hope that this small decision can help us push humanity at least a tiny bit into the right direction.”
Bukele also said Bitcion could help grow El Salvador’s gross domestic product by 25 percent.
El Salvdaor’s current currency is the U.S. dollar. Citizens of El Salvador who live in the U.S. sent back about $6 billion in remittances last year, according to the AP.
Bukele, who has a high popularity rating in his country, was praised for playing a role in obtaining COVID-19 vaccines for his country and establishing a fluid vaccination program as well.
Bukele’s party, New Ideas party, holds a majority of seats in the congress where his proposed legislation could be passed, according to the AP.