https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/bvzvjd/el-salvador-just-made-bitcoin-legal-tender-a-world-first > Bitcoin has had a tumultuous year filled with highs and lows, and not just with its price, which soared north of $60,000 for 1 BTC before losing half its value. Now, El Salvador has become the first country in the world to make Bitcoin legal tender after a new law passed in the country's legislature on Tuesday. > The plan to make Bitcoin a national currency was announced by President Nayib Bukele over the weekend at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami. Bukele also changed his Twitter avatar to a "laser eyes" pic that signals one's belief that Bitcoin is powering up, and all of this sent cryptocurrency enthusiasts through the roof, and for good reason. While Bitcoin has seen a few major mainstream milestones recently, such as Coinbase going public in a massive IPO, a country accepting Bitcoin for taxes (for example) is an important legitimation signal.