PERSPECTIVE ECONOMICS AND FINANCE BITCOIN AND PUBLIC FINANCE IN EL SALVADOR Solution or deepening of a pre-existing crisis? Tatiana Marroquín September 2022 Structural fiscal problems are one of the scenarios faced by the Bukele government since he became president; however, the adoption of Bitcoin as le­gal tender has brought about an adverse situation for the financing and stabilization of public finances. There was no discussion or prior announcement on the part of the Salvadoran government to the population regarding the implementation of this measure. The Bitcoin Law has not met the objective of being a cata­lyst for financial inclusion; on the contrary, it has weakened the state’s ability to respond to the needs of the most vul­nerable population.