Argentine President Javier Milei Faces Fresh Allegations in $LIBRA Meme Coin Scandal as Forensic Evidence Uncovers Alleged $5 Million Payment Deal
One year after Argentine President Javier Milei’s viral tweet sent a little-known meme coin called $LIBRA soaring, a major new investigation has cast serious doubt on his repeated claims of ignorance.
On February 14, 2025, Milei posted a single message on X promoting the token, describing it as an innovative Argentine project. The price exploded almost instantly — surging more than 2,000% in hours. Then came the crash: the coin lost roughly **95%** of its value in a rapid collapse widely labeled a rug pull. Thousands of retail investors lost millions of dollars.
At the time, Milei insisted he had no detailed knowledge of the project and had simply wanted to support local innovation and blockchain technology. “I didn’t know the specifics,” he said.
That defense is now under heavy pressure.
Explosive New Evidence from El Destape Investigation
On March 15–16, 2026, Argentine investigative outlet El Destape published a bombshell report based on forensic analysis of the phone belonging to crypto lobbyist Mauricio Novelli — a key intermediary in the project.
According to the report, digital forensics experts from Argentina’s Directorate of Technological Support for Criminal Investigations (DATIP) recovered a deleted document from Novelli’s device. The file, created just days before the token’s launch, outlines a **structured $5 million payment agreement** tied directly to Milei’s public endorsement of $LIBRA.
The alleged deal was reportedly discussed with “H” — identified by El Destape as Hayden Davis, the American creator of the token and founder of Kelsier Ventures.
It included a three-tier payment structure:
- $1.5 million upfront;
- An additional $1.5 million if Milei publicly announced Hayden Davis (or his company) as an adviser;
- - A final $2 million if Milei signed a formal blockchain and AI consulting contract with the project.
The document does not explicitly name recipients, but El Destape and other outlets report that the funds were intended for Milei’s circle, including his sister and Secretary General Karina Milei, as well as intermediaries such as Novelli, Manuel Terrones Godoy, and Sergio Morales.
Phone Records Show Intense Pre-Launch Contact
Forensic call logs from the same device reveal a flurry of communications in the hours surrounding Milei’s tweet:
- Milei spoke with Novelli at least five times in the minutes before and immediately after posting;
- Calls also involved Karina Milei and presidential adviser Santiago Caputo;
These records directly contradict Milei’s earlier statements that he had minimal involvement or awareness.
Also read:
- Uzbekistan’s Uzum Hits $2.3 Billion Valuation in Record Time, Raising $131.5 Million and Becoming the Country’s First Unicorn
- Horizon Worlds Is Leaving VR Headsets — But Don't Bury the Metaverse Just Yet
- Can Palmer Luckey Turn Nostalgia Into His Fourth $1 Billion Company? ModRetro’s Bold Bet on Retro Consoles
- February 2026’s $189 Billion Venture Record: Historic High — or Extreme Concentration in Disguise?
Ongoing Criminal Investigation
The case is being investigated in Argentina as a potential scam, with parallel scrutiny in the United States (where Hayden Davis is based). Assets linked to several individuals involved have already been frozen. Novelli’s phone was seized as part of the probe, which is how the incriminating document and call logs were recovered.
Milei and his administration have not yet issued a detailed public response to the latest revelations, though the scandal continues to dominate Argentine media and political debate.
The $LIBRA episode has become one of the most politically damaging crypto-related controversies in Latin America in recent years — raising fresh questions about the boundaries between a president’s personal influence, public statements, and private financial arrangements.
As the forensic investigation continues, the central question remains: Was the president’s tweet an innocent show of support for innovation — or part of a coordinated arrangement worth millions? The recovered document from Novelli’s phone suggests the latter may be far more likely than previously believed.

