The World Bank said on Wednesday it could not assist El Salvador's&nbsp;bitcoin&nbsp;implementation given environmental and transparency drawbacks.

"We are committed to helping El Salvador in numerous ways including for currency transparency and regulatory processes," said a World Bank spokesperson via email.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/el-salvador-legalises-bitcoin-as-other-nations-plan-similar-moves-390658">El Salvador legalises Bitcoin as other nations plan similar moves</a>

"While the government did approach us for assistance on&nbsp;bitcoin, this is not something the World Bank can support given the environmental and transparency shortcomings."

Earlier on Wednesday, Salvadoran Finance Minister Alejandro Zelaya said the Central American country had sought technical assistance from the Bank as it seeks to use&nbsp;bitcoin&nbsp;as a parallel legal tender alongside the US&nbsp;dollar.

El Salvador's government did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters regarding the World Bank's decision.

The minister also said ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund had been successful, although the IMF said last week it saw "macroeconomic, financial and legal issues" with the country's adoption of&nbsp;bitcoin.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/el-salvador-becomes-the-first-country-to-adopt-bitcoin-as-legal-tender-after-passing-legislation-390314">El Salvador becomes the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender after passing legislation</a>

Zelaya said on Wednesday the IMF was "not against" the&nbsp;bitcoin&nbsp;implementation. The IMF did not respond to a request for comment.

Investors have recently demanded higher premiums to hold Salvadoran debt, on growing concerns over the completion of the IMF deal, the key to patching budget gaps through 2023.

On Wednesday, bonds sold off across the curve, with the 2032 issue down more than 2 cents at 96.25 cents on the dollar. The spread of Salvadoran debt to US&nbsp;Treasuries dipped to 705 basis points after hitting on Tuesday a four-month high of 725 bps.

"There is no fast track for a solution on an IMF program and even uncertainty on whether the&nbsp;bitcoin&nbsp;proposal is compatible with diplomatic US&nbsp;(or) multilateral relations," said Siobhan Morden, head of Latin America fixed-income strategy at Amherst Pierpont Securities in New York.

El Salvador this month became the first country to adopt&nbsp;bitcoin&nbsp;as legal tender, with President Nayib Bukele touting the cryptocurrency's potential as a remittance currency for Salvadorans overseas.

This month, Bukele also pulled out of an anti-corruption accord with the Organization of the American States, which dismayed the US&nbsp;government, as Washington looks to stem corruption in Central America as part of its immigration policy.

"The recognition of a 'Bukele' risk premium has probably done some permanent damage to investor sentiment," Morden said in her client note.

The market may be focusing too much on the news headlines, however, and not enough on the possibility of a deal with the IMF, said Shamaila Khan, head of EM debt strategies at AllianceBernstein in New York.

"It is important for El Salvador to get the IMF program done. If it was lost on them, they wouldn’t have the conversations," she said.

"Our view is too much risk is priced in at these levels."

The World Bank said on Wednesday it could not assist El Salvador's bitcoin implementation given environmental and transparency drawbacks. "We are committed to helping El Salvador in numerous ways including for currency transparency and regulatory processes," said a World Bank spokesperson via email.

The World Bank said on Wednesday it could not assist El Salvador's bitcoin implementation given environmental and transparency drawbacks. "We are committed to helping El Salvador in numerous ways including for currency transparency and regulatory processes," said a World Bank spokesperson via email. Also read | El Salvador legalises Bitcoin as other nations plan similar moves "While the government did approach us for assistance on bitcoin, this is not something the World Bank can support given the environmental and transparency shortcomings." Earlier on Wednesday, Salvadoran Finance Minister Alejandro Zelaya said the Central American country had sought technical assistance from the Bank as it seeks to use bitcoin as a parallel legal tender alongside the US dollar. El Salvador's government did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters regarding the World Bank's decision. The minister also said ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund had been successful, although the IMF said last week it saw "macroeconomic, financial and legal issues" with the country's adoption of bitcoin. Also read | El Salvador becomes the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender after passing legislation Zelaya said on Wednesday the IMF was "not against" the bitcoin implementation. The IMF did not respond to a request for comment. Investors have recently demanded higher premiums to hold Salvadoran debt, on growing concerns over the completion of the IMF deal, the key to patching budget gaps through 2023. On Wednesday, bonds sold off across the curve, with the 2032 issue down more than 2 cents at 96.25 cents on the dollar. The spread of Salvadoran debt to US Treasuries dipped to 705 basis points after hitting on Tuesday a four-month high of 725 bps. "There is no fast track for a solution on an IMF program and even uncertainty on whether the bitcoin proposal is compatible with diplomatic US (or) multilateral relations," said Siobhan Morden, head of Latin America fixed-income strategy at Amherst Pierpont Securities in New York. El Salvador this month became the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender, with President Nayib Bukele touting the cryptocurrency's potential as a remittance currency for Salvadorans overseas. This month, Bukele also pulled out of an anti-corruption accord with the Organization of the American States, which dismayed the US government, as Washington looks to stem corruption in Central America as part of its immigration policy. "The recognition of a 'Bukele' risk premium has probably done some permanent damage to investor sentiment," Morden said in her client note. The market may be focusing too much on the news headlines, however, and not enough on the possibility of a deal with the IMF, said Shamaila Khan, head of EM debt strategies at AllianceBernstein in New York. "It is important for El Salvador to get the IMF program done. If it was lost on them, they wouldn’t have the conversations," she said. "Our view is too much risk is priced in at these levels."

World Bank rejects El Salvador request for help on bitcoin implementation

At a time when several cryptocurrencies are crashing, Latin America’s El Salvador has become the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, alongside the US dollar.

El Salvador approves Bitcoin as legal tender

el-salvador-bitcoin-legal-tender

El Salvador Bitcoin Legal Tender, News on El Salvador Bitcoin Legal Tender, stories on El Salvador Bitcoin Legal Tender, articles on El Salvador Bitcoin Legal Tender, El Salvador Bitcoin Legal Tender stories at Wion, El Salvador Bitcoin Legal Tender news, El Salvador Bitcoin Legal Tender latest news

el salvador-bitcoin-legal-tender

World Bank rejects El Salvador request for help on bitcoin implementation

El Salvador approves Bitcoin as legal tender