The fallout from the $LIBRA cryptocurrency collapse is quickly turning into a full-blown political and legal crisis in Argentina. At the center of it all is President Javier Milei, whose public support for the token earlier this year is now under intense scrutiny. What started as a flashy meme coin promotion has spiraled into asset freezes, criminal complaints, and questions reaching the highest levels of government. The Argentina $LIBRA crypto scandal is a lesson in how political endorsements can fuel speculation and hurt everyday investors.
Judge Freezes Assets, Targets Inner Circle
Judge María Servini has authorized a freeze on the assets of several individuals linked to the launch and promotion of $LIBRA. That includes Mauricio Novelli, Manuel Terrones Godoy, and Sergio Morales, who are believed to have played key roles in pushing the project to the public. Servini didn’t stop there, she also lifted banking secrecy protections on accounts belonging to President Milei and his sister, Karina Milei, who serves as the Secretary General of the Presidency.
On Friday 14th, Argentina’s President Milei tweeted about the $LIBRA coin, encouraging his followers to buy it on the grounds that it would “help fund small businesses and start-ups”. As if that weren’t enough, he shared a link for people to buy it online. Naturally, within a few… pic.twitter.com/bC0i1e0SJ1
— Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) February 19, 2025
The court’s goal is to follow the money. Investigators are trying to determine if anyone in Milei’s inner circle financially benefited from the coin’s brief surge before its sudden crash.
A Token Boosted by Presidential Hype
$LIBRA launched on February 14 with a bang. That same day, President Milei posted on social media praising the token, triggering a wave of investor interest. The price shot up quickly as thousands bought in, assuming Milei’s endorsement gave the project legitimacy. But within days, the price tanked, leaving many retail investors holding the bag.
Evidence now points to some early insiders selling off their holdings just before the decline. This has fueled suspicions of a coordinated pump-and-dump scheme and raised serious concerns about abuse of public influence for private gain.
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Political Backlash Is Building Fast
Unsurprisingly, the scandal is causing a major shake-up in Argentina’s political landscape. More than 100 fraud complaints have been filed against Milei, and opposition lawmakers are openly discussing impeachment. Congress has launched an official investigation, and critics say the president used his platform to lure citizens into a financial trap.
Milei’s approval ratings have taken a hit, and what was once a high-energy, outsider-led administration is now facing accusations of betrayal and incompetence. The scandal has started to overshadow his policy agenda and threatens to derail his presidency altogether.
Legal Trouble Spreads Beyond Argentina
The controversy isn’t limited to local courts. International law firms are reportedly preparing class-action lawsuits on behalf of investors from outside Argentina who lost money on $LIBRA. Meanwhile, US law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Justice, have been notified. If financial misconduct crossed borders or violated international financial laws, this case could grow even bigger.
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Argentina $LIBRA Crypto Scandal: A Hard Lesson on Crypto and Politics
The $LIBRA fallout is shaping up to be one of the most high-profile crypto scandals to hit Latin America. It’s also a reminder of what can go wrong when political power meets speculative assets. For investors, it’s a cautionary tale. For politicians, it’s a warning: playing with hype-driven crypto comes with real-world consequences.
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Key Takeaways
- Argentina’s President Javier Milei is under fire after publicly endorsing $LIBRA, a meme coin now linked to fraud and asset freezes.
- A federal judge has frozen assets and lifted banking secrecy on accounts tied to Milei and his sister, as part of a broader financial investigation.
- Evidence suggests early $LIBRA insiders may have dumped their tokens after Milei’s public support triggered a price spike, raising fraud concerns.
- Over 100 fraud complaints have been filed against Milei, with Congress launching an investigation and opposition leaders discussing impeachment.
- International legal action may follow, as investors and US authorities look into whether the $LIBRA scheme violated cross-border financial laws.
The post Argentina’s President Caught in $LIBRA Crypto Scandal appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
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