A Salvadoran news outlet has reported that a computer and cryptocurrency expert critical of the land accepting Bitcoin as legal tender was arrested by local police and held for hours earlier existence released.

According to multiple interviews conducted by La Prensa Gráfica, police in San Salvador arrested reckoner specialist Mario Gómez Midweek without a warrant, seizing his telephone and attempting to take possession of a computer from his mother Elena de Gomez. The National Ceremonious Police, or PNC, released a argument saying Gómez's detainment was related to an investigation for financial fraud. Otto Flores, Gómez'south lawyer, said authorities released Gómez subsequently that afternoon.

"[Mario] participates a lot in forums, in events, on social networks and is critical of the government," said his mother. "If we see that the state is going astern, it is necessary to speak considering it is a human right to express our opinions."

Gómez has regularly posted on social media about his opposition to legislation set up to make Bitcoin (BTC) legal tender in El Salvador on Sept. seven. His Twitter posts include allegations that individuals behind the government's Bitcoin wallet "Chivo" may be associated with the same BTC accost associated with the massive hack of Twitter in July 2022. He has too made No Al Bitcoin (No To Bitcoin) stickers bachelor to his thousands of followers.

There take been at least two major protests in San Salvador since the nation's Legislative Assembly passed a beak proposing Bitcoin exist accepted as legal tender alongside the U.S. dollar. President Nayib Bukele initially appear he would be pursuing such a law at the Bitcoin 2022 conference in June merely later added Salvadorans would have the choice not to utilize the cryptocurrency.

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Post-obit news of his abort, Gómez's followers started a Twitter campaign to "Free Mario." Steve Hanke, an economist at Johns Hopkins University, referred to the move by the PNC equally "authoritarian police tactics in activity." Anabel Belloso, a member of the country's Legislative Assembly, also unsaid the authorities were attempting to "invent charges" confronting Gómez.

"The arrest of Mario portrays the fragility of the government in terms of the implementation of the Bitcoin Law but confirms something even more unsafe," said Héctor Silva, councilor of the mayor's role of San Salvador. "They are willing to manipulate whatever institutions are necessary to push critical voices out of their mode."