El Salvador to Issue Bitcoin Certifications to 80,000 Government Employees

El Salvador’s commitment to Bitcoin continues as President Nayib Bukele unveils a significant initiative to train 80,000 civil servants in Bitcoin. This programme, spearheaded by the National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) under the Presidential Office, aims to integrate Bitcoin more thoroughly into the nation’s economy and daily life.

The new programme, called Certification in Public Administration 1, includes a 160-hour virtual course. It is divided into seven modules, covering Bitcoin fundamentals, legal implications, and management practices related to its use as legal tender.

Educational Integration and Impact

Bitcoin education will also be introduced in public schools through open-source resources such as Mi Primer Bitcoin and Node Nation. The goal is to deepen Bitcoin’s integration into everyday life and the economic system.

Stacy Herbert, Director of ONBTC, expects that training civil servants will have a "compounding effect" on El Salvador’s Bitcoin-centric economy. Further educational projects are planned to support this vision.

Challenges and Financial Performance

Despite facing criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and limited business adoption—only about 20% of businesses comply with the Bitcoin law, with many converting Bitcoin sales to U.S. dollars—El Salvador remains committed. The country’s Bitcoin reserves are valued at over $375 million, and recent U.S. approvals of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have positively influenced this value.