Protesters set fire to a Bitcoin ATM as part of an anti-El Salvador presidency demonstration

<p>The Chivo machine was damaged with anti-BTC emblems and a banner declaring that "democracy is not for sale."</p> <p>Bitcoin opponents and those protesting President Nayib Bukele's policies in El Savador have demolished a cryptocurrency shop in the country's major city.</p> <p>Teleprensa and other news organisations shared videos on social media on Wednesday of a Chivo-supported shop in San Salvador catching fire amid a mob of journalists and demonstrators. The Bitcoin (BTC) machine, one of several set up by the El Salvadorian government in the aftermath of the country's acceptance of the cryptocurrency as legal cash, was damaged with anti-BTC logos and a placard reading "democracy is not for sale."</p> <p>Mayor Mario Durán of San Salvador stated that city employees had evacuated the area following threats, but would return later this afternoon. At the time of publication, the damage appears to have been limited to the Chivo machine in the capital city's Plaza Gerardo Barrios, but demonstrators apparently also set fire to furniture from one of the plaza's shops.</p> <p>The Chivo kiosk — which operates similarly to a Bitcoin ATM — is one of approximately 200 throughout El Salvador as part of the government's deployment of BTC as legal cash alongside the US dollar. President Bukele has stated that he intends to see cryptocurrency ATMs installed "everywhere" in the country, but has stated that no one will be forced to use Bitcoin.</p> <p>Even before the Bitcoin Law took effect on Sept. 7, El Salvador encountered opposition to the legislation's apparent radicalism. In July, protesters dubbed the Popular Resistance and Rebellion Block marched through the streets of the capital city, while the following month, a group of retirees, veterans, disability pensioners, and other workers organised their own rally.</p> <p>On the same day that the country's Bitcoin Law took effect, the price of the digital asset fell below $43,000, causing Bukele to declare that he had "purchased the drop" by purchasing an extra 150 BTC