RELEASE

The Central Bank of Honduras (BCH), before the latest news about the possible adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in the country, informs the public of the following:

1. Bitcoin is a financial asset that exists virtually (also known as such as cryptocurrency, cryptoactive or cryptocurrency), which for the time being our country is not regulated and in most countries they do not have the status of legal tender.
2. In accordance with the provisions of Article 342 of the Constitution of the Republic, Article 5 of the Monetary Law and Article 26 of the Bank Law Central of Honduras; the BCH is the only issuer of banknotes and tender coins legal in the national territory. Likewise, Article 1 of the Monetary Law indicates that the monetary unit of Honduras is the Lempira.
3. It is important to remember what was established in the communications of January 19, 2018, January 17, 2020 and June 11, 2021, in which it was reported that the BCH does not supervise or guarantee the operations carried out with cryptocurrencies as means of payment in the national territory, so that any transaction carried out with this type of virtual assets is under the responsibility and risk of who do it.
4. We reiterate that the BCH, considering the importance of adopting the technological innovation for offering payment and financial services, continues with the conceptual, technical and legal study and analysis to determine the feasibility of issuing a central bank digital currency (Central Bank Digital Currency -CBDC-, for its acronym in English) that has the characteristic of being recognized as legal tender in the country and therefore be regulated and have the support of the BCH.

Central Bank of Honduras, To the Services of the Nation Tegucigalpa M.D.C., March 23, 2022