Yes: no Salvadoran law bans holding or trading crypto, and since January 2025 accepting bitcoin is voluntary and limited to private parties. Firms that sell digital asset services must register with the regulator CNAD.

Decree 57, the Bitcoin Law, was issued on 8 June 2021. Its article 1 made bitcoin “curso legal” with unlimited power of discharge, article 7 required every economic agent to accept it when offered, and article 4 let taxes be paid in it. It came into force 90 days after its publication on 9 June 2021, which we calculate as about 7 September 2021.

Decree 199 of 29 January 2025, published in the Diario Oficial on 30 January, rewrote the law. The new article 1 keeps the words “curso legal” but adds acceptance that is voluntary, with only wholly private participation, and the new article 7 lets only private persons accept bitcoin, and only when it is offered to them. Articles 4, 8 and 9 are repealed, which removes tax payment in bitcoin and the state’s conversion alternatives. Press reports describe this as the end of legal tender status; the text we read does not say so, so we describe it as voluntary, private-sector acceptance. It took effect 90 days after publication, about 30 April 2025 by our calculation.

The change came with the IMF programme. The IMF Board approved a 40-month arrangement of about US$1.4 billion on 26 February 2025, and its release lists voluntary private-sector acceptance, taxes paid only in US dollars and limits on public-sector engagement in bitcoin among the commitments. On 1 October 2026 the Board completed the second and third reviews and granted waivers for unmet performance criteria on bitcoin accumulation. The staff-level agreement of 3 September 2026 says public participation in the Chivo wallet has been substantially unwound, with a private operator in control, and that bitcoin accumulated since the first review reflects private donations.

Which crypto exchanges work in El Salvador?

Thirteen of the 14 exchanges we track serve Salvadoran residents; Gemini does not. Four of them, Binance, OKX, Bitfinex and Bitget, have a Salvadoran company on the CNAD register.

The Digital Assets Issuance Law, Decree 643, was published on 24 January 2023. Article 6 creates the CNAD, and article 18 sets up its register of digital asset service providers: providers may offer services only if they are registered, and a foreign firm must first form a company or branch domiciled in El Salvador. The law has no passport for foreign firms, and we found no CNAD warning list.

The register had numbers up to PSAD-0098 on 25 September 2026, with gaps in the sequence, so we do not quote a firm count. What it shows for the platforms we track:

Table of the fourteen exchanges we track, with status for Salvadoran residents, entry on the CNAD register of digital asset service providers and what our geo-access test saw. Coinbase available; Kraken available; Binance available, registered PSAD-0002; Bybit available; OKX available, registered PSAD-0052; Bitget available, registered PSAD-0047; HTX available; Gemini restricted; Crypto.com available; Bitstamp available; Bitfinex available, registered PSAD-0083 and PSAD-0082 and PSAD-0040 and PSAD-0001; KuCoin available; Gate available; MEXC available. Beside it: the register numbers run up to PSAD-0098, dated 25 September 2026, with gaps in the sequence; 4 of 14 tracked exchanges have an entry, and none found means no entry in our read of the register page.

  • Binance has Binance Services El Salvador, S.A. de C.V. as PSAD-0002. Press and the CNAD pages we read give different registration dates, so we leave the date out.
  • OKX has OKX Fintech, S.A. de C.V., PSAD-0052, registered on 23 May 2025. Its page says the Salvadoran company serves only users residing in El Salvador and Argentina.
  • Bitfinex has four companies: Securities (PSAD-0001), Derivatives (PSAD-0040, 6 January 2025) and, since 23 April 2026, BFXNA (PSAD-0082) and BFXWW (PSAD-0083), the one that runs the core platform.
  • Bitget has BG El Salvador, S.A. de C.V. as PSAD-0047, registered on 9 April 2025.

We found no entry for Coinbase, Kraken, Bybit, KuCoin, Gate, MEXC or HTX in our read of the register, but part of the page did not load for us, so treat that as a gap in our reading, not proof. Others that are on it include Tether International (PSAD-0028, 16 August 2024), the Chivo wallet company (PSAD-0078, 26 March 2026), WEEX (PSAD-0085) and WhiteBIT (PSAD-0095), none of which we track as platforms.

Enforcement has been light. The CNAD temporarily suspended Globiance Pay (PSAD-0003) in a statement of 24 October 2025; we found no forced exit of any exchange.

Best crypto platforms for Salvadoran residents

Bitfinex scores highest at 10 out of 10: four registered companies, an open page in our test and every product open. Binance, OKX and Bitget follow at 9, and platforms we could not test score lowest.

The score rates how fully a Salvadoran resident can use each platform, not its fees or safety. It is computed from our data and moves when a row changes: access status (4 points), the share of the platform’s products open here (3), the licences we hold on file for El Salvador (2) and what our geo-access test saw from a Salvadoran address (1). The full method is on our methodology page.

Exchanges

  1. Bitfinex

    Best for Spot and margin for experienced traders

    10.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    2/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • Four of its companies are on the CNAD register
    • Its pages loaded in our test

    Cons

    • Its core platform registered with the CNAD only in April 2026
    Read our Bitfinex report

  2. Binance

    Best for The widest range of markets

    9.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    1/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • Binance Services El Salvador is on the CNAD register
    • El Salvador is not on its prohibited-countries list

    Cons

    • The CNAD pages we read disagree on its registration date
    Read our Binance report

  3. Bitget

    Best for Spot and derivatives in one account

    9.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    1/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • BG El Salvador is on the CNAD register
    • Its pages loaded in our test

    Cons

    • Its list of prohibited countries is non-exhaustive
    Read our Bitget report

  4. OKX

    Best for A global brand with a wide product range

    9.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    1/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • OKX Fintech is on the CNAD register
    • El Salvador is not on its restricted-locations list (updated 8 July 2026)

    Cons

    • Its Salvadoran company serves only residents of El Salvador and Argentina
    Read our OKX report

  5. Bybit

    Best for Spot and derivatives in one account

    8.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on its excluded-jurisdictions list
    • Its pages loaded in our test

    Cons

    • No CNAD entry found
    Read our Bybit report

  6. Gate

    Best for A wide range of listed tokens

    8.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not named in its restricted-locations clause
    • Its pages loaded in our test

    Cons

    • Its list is non-exhaustive
    • No CNAD entry found
    Read our Gate report

  7. HTX

    Best for Spot and derivatives in one account

    8.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on the restricted lists in its user agreement
    • Its pages loaded in our test

    Cons

    • Its list is non-exclusive
    • No CNAD entry found
    Read our HTX report

  8. KuCoin

    Best for A wide range of listed tokens

    8.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on its restricted-locations list (updated 29 September 2026)
    • Its pages loaded in our test

    Cons

    • No CNAD entry found
    Read our KuCoin report

  9. MEXC

    Best for A wide range of listed tokens

    8.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on its prohibited-jurisdictions list
    • Its pages loaded in our test

    Cons

    • No CNAD entry found
    Read our MEXC report

  10. Bitstamp

    Best for Plain spot trading

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • No Bitstamp document excludes El Salvador

    Cons

    • No CNAD entry found
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our Bitstamp report

  11. Coinbase

    Best for A familiar US exchange for spot buying

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is a listed sign-up country in its identity-verification guide

    Cons

    • No CNAD entry found
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our Coinbase report

  12. Crypto.com

    Best for Trading in an app

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on its app or spot geo-restriction lists

    Cons

    • No CNAD entry found
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our Crypto.com report

  13. Kraken

    Best for Plain spot trading

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on its do-not-serve list

    Cons

    • No CNAD entry found
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our Kraken report

Prediction markets

  1. Kalshi

    Best for Regulated event contracts

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on its restricted-jurisdictions list

    Cons

    • No Salvadoran rule names prediction markets
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our Kalshi report

  2. Polymarket

    Best for The largest prediction market

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on its blocked-countries list

    Cons

    • No Salvadoran rule names prediction markets
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our Polymarket report

DeFi

  1. Aster

    Best for Perpetuals from your own wallet

    8.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not on its prohibited-jurisdictions list
    • Its trading app loaded in our test

    Cons

    • No funding in dollars: you need crypto from another source
    Read our Aster report

  2. Hyperliquid

    Best for Perpetuals and spot on its own chain

    8.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • Not excluded by its terms
    • Its trading app loaded in our test

    Cons

    • No funding in dollars: you need crypto from another source
    Read our Hyperliquid report

  3. Lighter

    Best for Perpetuals from your own wallet

    8.0/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    1/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not named in its terms
    • Its trading app loaded in our test

    Cons

    • No funding in dollars: you need crypto from another source
    Read our Lighter report

  4. Jupiter

    Best for Solana swaps

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • El Salvador is not named in its terms

    Cons

    • No funding in dollars: you need crypto from another source
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our Jupiter report

  5. PancakeSwap

    Best for BNB Chain swaps and pools

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • Not excluded by its terms

    Cons

    • No funding in dollars: you need crypto from another source
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our PancakeSwap report

  6. Uniswap

    Best for Swapping tokens from your own wallet

    7.5/10
    Access
    4/4
    Products
    3/3
    Licences
    0/2
    Our test
    0.5/1

    Pros

    • Its terms bar only places under comprehensive US sanctions

    Cons

    • No funding in dollars: you need crypto from another source
    • Not covered by our geo-access test
    Read our Uniswap report

Which platforms block Salvadoran users?

Only one of the 22 platforms we track refuses Salvadoran residents: Gemini, which lists El Salvador on neither of its supported-country pages. None is limited.

Salvadoran law gives a platform no reason to close the country: individuals may hold and trade crypto, and the registration duty falls on firms that offer the regulated services. Several exclusion lists are non-exhaustive, so an absence is not a guarantee, and most platforms enforce at identity verification, not at the page.

Platforms with an El Salvador caveatPick one to see what we found
PlatformStatusTypeWhat we found
GeminiRestrictedExchangeNot on either of its lists of supported countries; we found no Salvadoran entity
OKXAvailableExchangeServed by a CNAD-registered company that takes only residents of El Salvador and Argentina
PolymarketAvailablePrediction marketNot on its blocked list and no Salvadoran action found, but no rule says whether the betting law reaches it
KalshiAvailablePrediction marketNot on its restricted list and no Salvadoran action found, but no rule says whether the betting law reaches it

Source: platform terms, CNAD register and our geo-access test, verified 19 October 2026.

What our geo-access test saw from El Salvador

From a Salvadoran virtual location on 14 and 16 October 2026 we loaded 12 of the platforms we track and none refused us; the other 10 were not tested from El Salvador.

The 12 were Aster, Binance, Bitfinex, Bitget, Bybit, Gate, HTX, Hyperliquid, KuCoin, Lighter, MEXC and OKX, and each one’s home and sign-up pages, or trading app, opened with no barrier. A virtual location, an address registered to the country but served elsewhere, tests a platform’s own geo-blocking only, and an open page is not permission: the test cannot see identity checks or blocks by internet providers. We hold no screenshots from El Salvador, so there is no gallery.

Who regulates crypto in El Salvador?

The CNAD registers and supervises digital asset service providers, the central bank BCR and the financial supervisor SSF write rules for bitcoin service providers under the Bitcoin Law, and the lottery body LNB holds the exclusive right to betting.

Timeline in four lanes. Bitcoin Law, 9 June 2021: Decree 57 published (Legal tender, 7 Sep 2021). Bitcoin Law, 30 January 2025: Decree 199 published (Acceptance voluntary). CNAD, 24 January 2023: Issuance law (Creates the CNAD). CNAD, 23 May 2025: OKX registered (PSAD-0052). CNAD, 25 September 2026: Latest entry (PSAD-0098). IMF programme, 26 February 2025: Programme approved (US$1.4bn, 40 months). IMF programme, 1 October 2026: Reviews completed (Bitcoin waivers granted). Betting law, 22 December 2021: LNB law published (Betting reserved to the LNB).

  • CNAD. The Comisión Nacional de Activos Digitales is a public-law body linked to the Ministry of Economy, created by article 6 of the Issuance Law, which says in article 7 that it applies the law. It keeps the register described in the exchanges section.
  • BCR and SSF. Article 11 of Decree 199 says the Banco Central de Reserva and the Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero issue the rules for the Bitcoin Law, each within its powers. The BCR has kept a registry of bitcoin service providers since 2021. El Mundo reported on 13 April 2025 that its database showed 181 providers, of which only 20 were operating. We could not open the BCR registry, and we could not confirm whether it has been merged into the CNAD register.
  • LNB. The Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia is covered in the prediction markets section.
  • The IMF. It is not a regulator, but its programme set the bitcoin conditions described in the legal section, and its October 2026 release lists amending the Digital Asset Issuance Law and better frameworks for crypto asset providers among the priorities.

We found no bills that stalled and no CNAD warning about a named foreign exchange.

No Salvadoran rule names them. The betting law reserves lotteries, sports betting and online games to the state lottery body LNB, and we found no official statement on whether event contracts fall under it.

Facts from El Salvador’s betting law, Decree 251 of 21 December 2021: three activities are reserved to the Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia, namely lottery, sports betting and online games; and we found no rule or warning from any Salvadoran body that names prediction markets. Below, the status of two platforms with prediction markets for El Salvador: Polymarket available and Kalshi available, with no Salvadoran action found against either. Whether the law reaches event contracts has not been tested.

Decree 251 was issued on 21 December 2021 and published in the Diario Oficial on 22 December. Its article 7 makes lottery, sports forecasts (“pronósticos deportivos”) and online games the exclusive business of the LNB, and bars anyone else without its prior authorisation; the LNB may license third-party operators. The law defines online games as bingo, keno, slots and cards played through websites or apps, and sports betting as betting online or in person. Casinos fall outside it and, according to a summary we could not open, are supervised by the Ministry of Economy.

Whether an event contract on an election or a price counts as a bet under that wording is our reading, not a ruling: no court decision or regulator statement we found says so. Polymarket and Kalshi are open to Salvadorans on their own lists, and we found no Salvadoran action against either.

How is crypto taxed in El Salvador?

Bitcoin exchanges carry no capital gains tax under article 5 of the Bitcoin Law, which the 2025 amendments kept. For other income the ordinary individual bands run from 0% to 30%, and we found no tax authority guidance on crypto.

Rate ladder and facts. Income tax on individuals in US dollars a year, as reported after the April 2025 reform: exempt up to 6,600, 10% to 9,143, 20% to 22,857 and 30% above. Bitcoin exchanges carry 0% capital gains tax under article 5 of the Bitcoin Law, kept in the January 2025 amendments. Other capital gains pay a flat 10%, and gains on assets sold within 12 months count as income. El Salvador was not among the jurisdictions committed to the OECD crypto-asset reporting framework on the list of 17 June 2025.

The consolidated text of the Bitcoin Law after Decree 199 still says in article 5 that exchanges in bitcoin are not subject to taxes on capital gains. It covers bitcoin only; we found no source on other crypto assets. Decree 199 repealed article 4, so taxes can no longer be paid in bitcoin, and the IMF release says taxes are paid only in US dollars. The exemption has stood since the original law, and we found no change in 2026, though we could not check the Diario Oficial after May 2025.

Outside that exemption we relied on press and a tax guide, because we could not open the Ministry of Hacienda’s pages. El Mundo reported on 1 May 2025 that the income tax reform approved the day before exempts the first US$6,600 a year and taxes bands at 10%, 20% and 30%, the last above US$22,857.14. PwC, reviewed on 27 September 2026, says capital gains on other assets pay a flat 10%, and that gains on assets sold within 12 months are taxed as ordinary income. How either applies to crypto income that is not an exchange of bitcoin, such as mining or pay in crypto, we could not confirm.

Two things we could not settle. No source we found says how the 13% value-added tax treats crypto. And one news report claims a Hacienda announcement set a 0% rate from 1 January 2026 with an exemption for foreigners holding more than three bitcoin; it cites no decree and we found no Hacienda document, so we leave it out.

On reporting, the OECD list of 17 June 2025 names El Salvador among six jurisdictions relevant to the crypto-asset reporting framework that had not yet committed to it. We could not open the live OECD page to see whether that has changed.

Working out your crypto tax in El SalvadorAs the sources we could read describe it
StepDetail
Separate bitcoin exchangesArticle 5 of the Bitcoin Law exempts exchanges in bitcoin from capital gains tax
Treat other gains separatelyOther assets pay a flat 10% on capital gains, and gains within 12 months count as income, per PwC
Check the income bandsThe first US$6,600 a year is exempt, then 10%, 20% and 30%, per press reports of the April 2025 reform
Ask Hacienda for crypto incomeWe found no guidance on mining, pay in crypto or VAT, so confirm those with the tax authority

Source: Bitcoin Law article 5, El Mundo and PwC, checked 19 October 2026.