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United States President Donald Trump is set to host El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in Washington later this month, Bloomberg has reported. The April meeting follows the two leaders’ tightening of bonds on topics like immigration and security. Bukele’s office confirmed the visit, with the White House so far refusing to comment.

This is another important diplomatic encounter for Trump, who has already held meetings with the leaders of France, India, the UK, and Israel within the first two months of his presidency.

El Salvador’s Role In US Deportation Efforts

Bukele’s scheduled visit comes in the aftermath of his agreement to take in hundreds of suspected Venezuelan gang members deported from the United States. According to Bukele’s press secretary, Ernesto Sanabria, they would be imprisoned in El Salvador upon arrival.

President Donald Trump plans to host El Salvador President Nayib Bukele in Washington next month, people familiar with the matter said, after the Central American leader agreed to jail hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members deported from the US. https://t.co/p4SJW0sEqH

— Bloomberg Asia (@BloombergAsia) March 28, 2025

The action would herald increased cooperation between the two countries, especially in crime and immigration. Though terms of the deal are few, Bukele has been seen before as ready to cooperate with US officials on matters of deportation. In a proposal in February, he had indicated that his government would accept deportee criminals from any country for an undisclosed payment.

On the X platform, Bukele quipped, “I’ll be bringing several cans of Diet Coke,” playfully nodding to Trump’s well-known preference for the beverage.

I’ll be bringing several cans of Diet Coke. https://t.co/fuBAJDqXes

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 28, 2025

Trump And Bukele: Strengthening Diplomatic Ties

For Trump, receiving Bukele is part of a larger initiative to meet with world leaders early in his presidency. By April, Trump will have already sat down with several high-profile leaders, establishing relationships with allies and tackling urgent global concerns.

As of today, the market cap of cryptocurrencies stood at $2.68 trillion. Chart: TradingView

The visit can also open the door for a discussion on US-El Salvador relations outside of deportations. Areas like trade, regional security, and migration policies are bound to be part of any talks between the two heads of state.

The White House Stays Mum

Although plans for the visit have been mapped out by Bukele’s office, the White House has not issued a formal response. The White House has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the situation as of Friday afternoon, according to Bloomberg.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele

In spite of this, the reports indicate that the meeting is progressing, with preparations underway on both sides. The absence of official confirmation from the US government introduces a note of uncertainty, though the team of Bukele seems assured of the scheduled timetable.

Beyond Security & Migration

El Salvador was the first nation to legalize Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, making it a global experiment in crypto adoption. While proponents view this as a move toward financial innovation and sovereignty, critics point to volatility and IMF opposition.

Bukele has employed Bitcoin to draw foreign investment, affirming his pro-crypto policies. While it is unclear whether Bitcoin will come up during his meeting with Trump, their conversations may be a sign of changing US-El Salvador economic relations.

What This Visit Could Mean

The meeting between Trump and Bukele could have far-reaching repercussions for both countries. For the United States, it could serve to solidify deals on deportations and border protection. For El Salvador, a closer relationship with the US could mean economic and political gains.

The closer the date comes, the more information is likely to come out regarding the intent and agenda of the visit. In the meantime, the spotlight will be on how this encounter may influence the relationship between the two nations in the coming months and years.

Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView

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Argentinian President Javier Milei said it would be “an honor” for Argentina to host the next edition of Devconnect, a gathering of independent events that foster the growth of the Ethereum ecosystem. 

Milei made the statement in response to Vitalik Buterin’s praise of Argentina’s Ethereum community. He said the energy and determination of builders based in the country are real and the event should be held there.

The Ethereum co-founder assessed that the recent LIBRA memecoin scandal should not be seen as a reason to stop believing in crypto but as a motivation to spread education.

He added:

“I continue to be very optimistic about Argentina and Latam’s contributions and role in the space.”

In another X post, Buterin suggested that the next edition of Devconnect should be hosted in Argentina. He said this could be a “great opportunity” to showcase good examples of crypto usage to the Argentinian community and then tagged Milei in the post.

Milei responded via social media:

“THANK YOU VERY MUCH VITALIK BUTERIN  FOR YOUR WORDS ABOUT ARGENTINE TALENT!!! It would be an honor for Argentina to host Devconnect. I agree that it would be a great opportunity for our country.”

According to Chainalysis’ “2024 Geography of Crypto Report,” Argentina has the 15th-largest crypto adoption index and leads Latin America in crypto value received, at an estimated $91.1 billion between 2023 and 2024.

LIBRA controversy

The interactions between the Argentinian President and the Ethereum co-founder come in the backdrop of significant controversy. Milei endorsed the memecoin LIBRA on Feb. 14, saying the token was a way to fund Argentinian ventures. 

The token reached a $4.5 billion valuation before crashing 95% over the weekend. A report by Nansen estimated that 86% of traders lost $251 million, and 70% of wallets trading the token over the weekend endured losses.

Hayden Davis, a key figure behind LIBRA, said in an interview that Milei had no financial stake in the token after the fiasco. Davis reportedly claimed to influence the Argentinian President by paying Milei’s sister.

Notably, Milei said he did not intend to promote the token and only shared it on social media as a gesture of good faith toward the industry.

Mentioned in this article

Author

Gino Matos

Reporter at CryptoSlate

Gino Matos is a law school graduate and a seasoned journalist with six years of experience in the crypto industry. His expertise primarily focuses on the Brazilian blockchain ecosystem and developments in decentralized finance (DeFi).

Editor

Assad Jafri

Editor & Reporter at CryptoSlate

AJ, a passionate journalist since Yemen’s 2011 Arab Spring, has honed his skills worldwide for over a decade. Specializing in financial journalism, he now focuses on crypto reporting.