A judge in Argentina has launched an investigation into allegations of fraud against President Javier Milei after his brief endorsement of a cryptocurrency that suffered a dramatic collapse within hours of its launch. The digital asset, known as $LIBRA, briefly soared in value before plummeting, leaving investors with substantial losses.
Milei has denied any wrongdoing, stating that his support for the cryptocurrency was based on good faith. His office insists that he had no direct involvement in the project’s creation and that he withdrew his endorsement upon learning more about it.
On Sunday, lawyers in Argentina filed fraud complaints against the libertarian president. The case was assigned to Judge María Servini, head of Federal Court No. 1 in Buenos Aires, who now leads the inquiry. There is no set deadline for the completion of her investigation.
Milei’s controversial tweet on Friday evening coincided with the launch of the $LIBRA cryptocurrency. He claimed it was designed to “encourage economic growth by funding small businesses and startups.” The endorsement fueled a brief surge in market capitalization, pushing its value above $4 billion. However, the price soon tumbled amid accusations that the project could be fraudulent.
Within hours of the downturn, Milei deleted his social media post, but the damage was already done, with many investors suffering significant financial losses.
The cryptocurrency was created by KIP Protocol and Hayden Davis and was accessible via a website called vivalalibertadproject.com, a name inspired by Milei’s well-known catchphrase “Viva la libertad!” which he frequently uses in speeches and online posts.
The president’s office released a statement distancing him from the project, clarifying that Milei only promoted it as he does with many entrepreneurial initiatives aimed at boosting Argentina’s economy.
“The president shared a post on his personal accounts announcing the launch of KIP Protocol’s project, as he does daily with many entrepreneurs who wish to launch projects in Argentina to create jobs and attract investments.”
President Milei’s office
Following the backlash, Milei took to X (formerly Twitter), defending himself against allegations of fraud and accusing political rivals of leveraging the controversy for their gain.“I have nothing to hide and I have no problem coming forward and showing my face,” he said in an interview with Todo Noticias.
“Those who entered there voluntarily knew what they were getting into. As volatility traders, they understood the risks involved.”
Javier Milei
His administration has also announced that the country’s Anti-Corruption Office, which operates under the executive branch, will investigate the matter independently.
The Mechanics of Crypto Fraud
Fraudulent cryptocurrency launches are not new and often take various deceptive forms to exploit investors. Scams such as phishing attacks mimic legitimate crypto exchanges to steal login credentials, while fake Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) promise high returns before vanishing with investors’ money.
Pump-and-dump schemes artificially inflate the value of a cryptocurrency through false hype, allowing scammers to sell their holdings at a peak price before the value crashes. Rug pulls occur when developers suddenly withdraw all funds from a new crypto project, leaving investors with worthless tokens.
Emerging threats also involve artificial intelligence and deepfake technology, which create realistic-looking promotional content to deceive investors. Fake crypto wallets, fraudulent exchanges, and airdrop scams further complicate the landscape, making it crucial for investors to conduct thorough research before committing funds to any project.
Experts urge investors to exercise caution and due diligence in the volatile world of cryptocurrency. Key recommendations include researching projects extensively, verifying the credibility of the development team, and being wary of sudden price spikes or exaggerated promises of returns.
Additionally, investors should only participate in airdrops and token sales announced through official channels to mitigate the risk of falling victim to fraud.
As Argentina’s investigation into the $LIBRA scandal unfolds, the case raises broader concerns about the intersection of politics, finance, and digital assets, highlighting the risks associated with high-profile endorsements in the crypto space.
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