El Salvador has lastly begun constructing “Bitcoin Metropolis Airport,” an air transport hub that can supposedly sooner or later hyperlink Bitcoin Metropolis to the remainder of the world.
The nation’s official press company printed a video on its YouTube web page exhibiting the Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele at a press occasion on the building website, laying the primary basis stone on what’s going to sooner or later turn into Pacific Airport (official identify).
Nevertheless, bitcoiners have been dismayed to find that the 40-minute occasion contained no point out of Bitcoin Metropolis – the BTC “haven” it’s imagined to serve.
Bitcoin Metropolis Airport – Bukele Lays Basis Stone
Bukele first introduced plans to construct Bitcoin Metropolis in November 2021, claiming it could turn into a tax-free haven for worldwide Bitcoiners.
In 2022, the President unveiled additional plans to construct the airport, designed by the Mexican architect Fernando Romero.
Nevertheless, the unique airport plans date again to 2018, predating each the Bitcoin Metropolis plan and the nation’s adoption of Bitcoin (BTC) as authorized tender (September 2021).

Critics have slammed Bukele’s plans for the airport and Bitcoin Metropolis, claiming work had failed to start on each initiatives, years after they had been first introduced.
Bukele spoke on the occasion, claiming that in “section one” of its operation, the airport would have two gates.
He mentioned the airport’s preliminary capability could be 300,000 passengers per yr, claiming that builders would full “section one” of building by 2027.
Nevertheless, the federal government plans to increase the airport in two additional “phases.” The second section will see the variety of gates elevated to 10, with the ultimate section seeing an growth to 18.
In its remaining type, it will enable the airport to serve 5 million passengers per yr.
Bukele mentioned that the “preliminary funding” price of the mission was $320 million. The President added:
“This airport is not only a runway. It’s a gateway for improvement, tourism, funding, and financial progress. Within the 10 years, we count on it to generate 50,000 jobs and a each year GDP progress fee of 1.5%.”
New Jobs
Bukele added that the mission would additionally create 10,000 “direct and oblique jobs” in its first section.
And he claimed the mission would have a right away affect on the economic system. He mentioned it could generate $300 million in income in its first yr of operation.
#AeropuertoDelPacífico | El Gobierno del Presidente @nayibbukele construirá el Aeropuerto del Pacífico en tres fases. Aquí detallamos en qué consiste cada una de ellas. #SecretaríaDePrensa pic.twitter.com/c1tmIaAht7
— Secretaría de Prensa de la Presidencia (@SecPrensaSV) February 26, 2025
Nevertheless, discuss of Bitcoin was conspicuously absent on the occasion, as was point out of the Bitcoin Metropolis mission.
Observers declare that whereas the federal government as soon as bundled the 2 initiatives collectively, officers are now not doing so. The Spanish-language media outlet Criptonoticias wrote:
“[The government says that this] aeronautical mission, initially introduced in 2018, will probably be operational inside two years. The occasion marks a concrete step in the direction of its realization. However, the imaginative and prescient of Bitcoin Metropolis – offered to nice fanfare in 2021 – stays shrouded in uncertainty. So far, no clear deadlines or tangible progress have been outlined for town, which was supposedly designed for bitcoiners.”
Increase for La Unión
The federal government will construct the airport within the La Unión space, close to the Conchagua Volcano.
The volcano, per the federal government’s plans, is to be the focus of Bitcoin Metropolis. At its peak, in accordance with the unique design, will probably be a thermal plant that powers Bitcoin mining rigs.
In late 2021, Bukele promised that Bitcoin Metropolis wouldn’t require residents to “ever” pay revenue tax. He additionally mentioned there could be no property tax or native taxes within the metropolis, with VAT the only real levy for residents.
Nevertheless, Bukele seems to have misplaced none of his enthusiasm for Bitcoin. Earlier this week, the nation’s Nationwide Bitcoin Workplace paid round $94,050 per coin to purchase BTC 7 for the state’s reserves.
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