Milei Investigated for Alleged $5M LIBRA Crypto Payment

Argentine President Javier Milei is under investigation following the recovery of a document outlining an alleged $5 million payment agreement tied to his public promotion of the LIBRA cryptocurrency token, which surged and then collapsed in February 2025, wiping out investments from thousands of buyers.

The token launched on February 14, 2025, and Milei posted on X that evening at 7:01 p.m. local time, describing LIBRA as a private initiative to fund small businesses and startups in Argentina. His message included a website link and a 44-character contract code allowing users to purchase the token. The post triggered a rapid influx of investments, pushing LIBRA's market capitalization above $4 billion within hours. However, the value plunged 94 percent shortly after, affecting more than 44,000 investors. Eight wallets associated with the project reportedly cashed out $107 million during the surge.

Investigators recovered the document from the phone of Argentine trader Mauricio Novelli during a forensic examination as part of a broader probe into the token's collapse, which authorities are treating as a potential transnational fraud scheme. The file, created on February 11,...