El Salvador government faces probe over ballsy Bitcoin plan

El Salvador's Court of Accounts can initiate criminal proceedings if irregularities in president Bukele's Bitcoin rollout are uncovered.

El Salvador’s government is facing an investigation from the country’s Court of Accounts, less than two weeks after it became the first nation to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.

Human rights group Cristosal recently called for an official audit of the government’s Bitcoin purchases, reported Decrypt (via Reuters).

Cristosal also demanded a formal investigation into the country’s crypto ATMs.

In a document seen by Reuters, the court said: “Having admitted the complaint, it will be proceeded to carry out the legal analysis report and, in a timely manner, forward such report to the General Audit Coordination.”

The Court of Accounts, which holds jurisdiction over the country’s public resources, can reportedly initiate criminal proceedings if irregularities in El Salvador’s Bitcoin rollout are uncovered.

El Salvador protestors torch Bitcoin ATMs

El Salvador president Nayib Bukele has big plans for Bitcoin, but adoption of the cryptocurrency hasn’t gone as well as he might’ve hoped.

The country has been rocked by protests as citizens voice concerns over the lack of Bitcoin education, its volatility, and potential for misuse.

Protesters even set about burning a number of crypto ATMs in the capital city San Salvador earlier this week.

Tweet 1: “Protesters are protesting the implementation of Bitcoin as legal tender.” Tweet 2: “The furniture store that was in the Chivo kiosk in Plaza Gerardo Barrios was taken out and burned by the protesters,” automatically translated.

Read more: [Read this before criticizing El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender]

Software bugs also initially rendered the government’s Chivo Bitcoin wallet practically unusable.

Many also protested the totalitarian-tinged tactics employed by Bukele’s government to quash dissenting voices.

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