El Salvador, Animal Hospital Established with Bitcoin Trust Closed

# El Salvador to Close Bitcoin-Funded Veterinary Hospital Amid Animal Abuse Allegations In a significant development, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announced on Tuesday the closure of the veterinary hospital ‘Chivo Pets,’ as reported by Cryptopolitan on Monday. The hospital, established with surplus funds from the Bitcoin Trust, has been shuttered following revelations of animal abuse and neglect. The decision to close Chivo Pets came after incidents of animal abuse and neglect at a shelter operated by the city of San Salvador. President Bukele conveyed the closure via Facebook, stating, "After three years of dedication and effort, Chivo Pets is closing its doors. The love and stories we shared will last forever.” Bukele also announced the shutdown of the Animal Welfare Institute and the pet protection police service 'Polipet,' citing the same reasons. He added that all employees involved will be terminated for failing to take appropriate preventative measures. Chivo Pets was funded with approximately $4 million in surplus Bitcoin Trust funds. The hospital operated 24/7, with plans to care for 200 animals daily at an affordable cost of $0.25 per day. However, this incident marks another setback for El Salvador's Bitcoin initiatives. # El Salvador's Bitcoin Policy and IMF Pressure Since 2022, El Salvador has been purchasing one Bitcoin daily to bolster its cryptocurrency holdings. However, in December 2024, the country signed a $1.4 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), agreeing to discontinue the use of Bitcoin as legal tender and to reduce public sector participation in Bitcoin. Consequently, in January 2025, the El Salvadoran legislature amended the existing Bitcoin law. Despite these agreements, the El Salvadoran government continued its Bitcoin acquisitions, purchasing two Bitcoins on February 1, 2025, and maintaining daily purchases thereafter. The IMF has urged El Salvador to halt its Bitcoin purchases, but President Bukele dismissed the pressure, stating, "The IMF's pressure is merely a complaint." Currently, El Salvador holds approximately 6,105 Bitcoins, valued at around $511 million. The country's pro-Bitcoin stance has also positioned it as a new hub for cryptocurrency, attracting major crypto firms like Bitfinex and Tether, which have announced plans to relocate their headquarters to El Salvador.