El Salvador's Bitcoin-friendly policies and new residency programs are creating an unconventional opportunity for crypto-native investors.
El Salvador made history in 2021 by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender. Since then, the country has aggressively positioned itself as the world's most crypto-friendly jurisdiction, offering residency programs that accept Bitcoin and USDT payments, zero capital gains tax on Bitcoin, and a growing ecosystem of crypto-native businesses and infrastructure.
The Freedom Visa
The Freedom Visa program allows investors to obtain permanent residency through a Bitcoin or USDT contribution. The minimum investment is accessible relative to Caribbean CBI programs, and the country's 0% capital gains policy on cryptocurrency makes it particularly attractive for investors with significant unrealized gains.
This is a contrarian play. El Salvador carries political and economic risks that more established programs do not. But for investors who understand the crypto economy and are willing to accept asymmetric risk, the combination of favorable tax treatment, low cost of living, and first-mover positioning creates a compelling case.
Our Assessment
We recommend El Salvador as a complementary position, not a primary strategy. Pair it with a more established passport for travel utility and a stable EU or Asian residency for wealth management. The combination creates optionality that no single jurisdiction can provide alone.