- Allegations surround potential bribes for promoting the Libra token linked to Argentine President Javier Milei.
- Evidence, including leaked messages, raises questions about insider trading and bribery claims.
The launch of the $LIBRA memecoin, tied to the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, has sparked political and financial controversy. Leaked text claims involve Hayden Davis, the representative for Kelsier Ventures, bragging about the endorsement by the President’s sister.
These leaked chats were observed by the Argentinian news outlet LA NACION, and they appear to outline the bribe and influence-peddling operation.
Despite the severity of the allegations, the government has refuted the suggestion that Milei or his close associates profited from the token. Until now, nothing concrete has come up to confirm whether the allegations were genuine or merely exaggerated by Davis.
Chats Reveal Concerns Over Davis’s Market Manipulation
Further insights into Davis’s assertions were revealed through his interactions with investors and business executives. In one leaked exchange from December 2024, Davis supposedly bragged about making payments to Milei’s sister for buying tweets for promotion.
However, when questioned about this, Davis denied ever sending the said messages and refuted the claims outright. However, this defense did not appease critics as the leaked messages detail market rigging and insider transactions.
Additionally, chats between Kelsier Ventures and its investors reveal concerns about Davis’s intentions. Members of DeFi Tuna, a Solana-based protocol tied to Kelsier, reportedly debated Davis’s aggressive tactics, including “maximizing extraction” from the token’s launch.
Crypto World Reacts to Allegations
Globally, the LIBRA controversy has outraged cryptocurrency supporters, who are concerned that it damages the credibility of blockchain innovation.
Industry insiders also condemned the likes of Davis for profiteering from the tech, undermining the level of trust within the space. Following this, Solana-based founders for the protocol stated that they separated from Kelsier Ventures due to unethical activities around the launch of $LIBRA.
The situation recalls earlier crypto scandals, as reports indicate Davis’s moves were similar to those of insider trading. A small group supposedly was provided access to Milei’s hype tweet prior, inciting rumors about pre-planned coordination for $LIBRA’s launch.
Implications for President Milei
However, President Milei’s indirect or direct involvement has also raised hard-hitting questions about the intersection of cryptocurrencies and politics. While President Milei insists his X post about $LIBRA stemmed from being a “techno optimist,” the timing of the tweet, when the token went live, has caused controversy.
Critics question whether his interaction with the token was innocently unexpected or something larger. Adding to the controversy were reports that those close to Milei were requesting payments to bring about appointments with the President or to do publicity work.
The President’s office has denied the allegations, emphasizing Milei’s non-involvement. However, the ongoing leak of evidence, from leaked text messages to audio and video recordings, continues to raise eyebrows and ruin Milei’s public image.
