El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) has appointed esteemed economist and cryptocurrency advisor Saifedean Ammous as its newest economic advisor. President Nayib Bukele has enlisted the author of “The Bitcoin Standard,” a famous book in the cryptocurrency space, to join his Bitcoin team, according to a statement released on May 30.
When the author of the Bitcoin Standard met the leader of Bitcoin Country, great things were bound to happen.
— The Bitcoin Office (@bitcoinofficesv) May 30, 2023
We are excited to announce that @saifedean is joining us as Economic Advisor to the National Bitcoin Office of El Salvador.
Welcome to the winning team, Dr Ammous! pic.twitter.com/LyIljvKvtz
Bitcoiner Ammous, renowned for his expertise as an Austrian economist and best-selling author, brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. The Bitcoin Office stated, “Saifedean will make a great addition to President Bukele’s Bitcoin team.”
ONBTC reported that Ammous would be an advisor for matters related to various economic policies. Notably, he has opted not to receive payment for his services, expressing his dedication solely to supporting President Bukele’s Bitcoin policy of economic liberty and Bitcoin.
Expressing his excitement about his new role, Ammous took to Twitter, stating that he is “thrilled, honored, and excited to start working” in the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as a legal tender.
During an interview with local media outlet Diario El Salvador, Ammous shared his perspectives on El Salvador’s Bitcoin strategy. He expressed his belief that over time, the people of El Salvador will seek to accumulate more Bitcoin than those in other countries. When asked if having a Bitcoin reserve could lead to a debt-free El Salvador, the advisor responded,
Potentially. It’s definitely a possibility, not this year, maybe, but in five or ten years.
Recently, Ammous traveled to El Salvador and met with President Bukele to discuss the significant advantages of embracing economic freedom as a policy approach. Their discussions covered various topics, including economics, hydroponics, cattle breeding, and urban planning.
During his stay, Ammous also delivered lectures to students of CUBO+, a Bitcoin and Lightning Network developers program aimed at teaching locals the code and concepts surrounding these technologies.