Fitch lowers El Salvador’s rating due to Bitcoin adoption

“Policy unpredictability” and “adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender” are part of the reasons why the country received a downgrade from Fitch.

El Salvador faces another whipping from a traditional finance firm for its “forbidden” love for Bitcoin (BTC). 

American credit rating agency Fitch Ratings lowered El Salvador’s long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from B- to CCC, mentioning “policy unpredictability” and the “adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender” as some of the factors that led to the downgrade. 

Apart from these, the statistical rating organization explained that reliance on short-term debt, an $800 million Eurobond payment due in January 2023, and a high fiscal deficit gets in the way of a better rating for the country. 

Additionally, El Salvador’s increased short-term debt is perceived by Fitch to cripple the government’s ability to pay its overall debts, and this expands the risks of a roll-over. With nearly $1.3 billion due in August, September, and October, Fitch mentions that financial constraints will be more difficult for the country to deal with. 

According to Fitch, the country also faces increased risks from “high and growing financing needs” in the coming years. The firm mentions that the country using BTC as legal tender contributes to uncertainty on a potential program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that could provide the financing that the country needs in 2022-2023. 

The country’s rating can still go up in time if it meets Fitch’s criteria, including consistency in settling debts by “unlocking predictable sources of financing” and a fiscal adjustment focusing on debt sustainability. 

Related: IMF urges El Salvador to remove Bitcoin’s status as legal tender

Meanwhile, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele recently predicted that a BTC price increase might come very soon. Citing the number of millionaires globally, the president says that if they decide to own at least 1 BTC, there won’t be enough Bitcoin for all of them. 

Back in January, Fitch Ratings issued a warning to energy suppliers across the United States regarding crypto miners. According to the firm, not many states are capable of supplying the energy needs for mining. The company adds that mining operations are price sensitive and may be shut down when profits decline.