Argentine President Javier Milei called 'crypto-scammer' for promoting currency before crash

ARGENTINA’S PRESIDENT JAVIER Milei has denied promoting a cryptocurrency that crashed and lost investors billions of US dollars, as prosecutors reportedly prepare an investigation into the scandal.

“I did not promote it, I spread it,” Milei told broadcaster TN, adding that it “is a problem between private parties because the State does not play a role here.”

“I acted in good faith,” he said.

Argentina’s federal prosecutor’s office will examine whether Milei engaged in fraud or criminal association or was in breach of his duties when he praised the $LIBRA cryptocurrency on social media last Friday evening, according to news reports.

The cryptocurrency’s value soared then crashed, and Milei deleted his supportive social media post hours later, saying he had made a mistake.

Argentine economists, crypto specialists and opposition political figures criticised the self-declared “anarcho-capitalist” president, an economist by training, and said the digital asset could be a fraud or a Ponzi scheme.

Industry observers said the operation was likely a “rug pull” – a scam where developers unveil a crypto token, attract investors, then quickly cash out. The world of cryptocurrency is rife with such scams. 

Rights NGO Observatory for the Right to the City, one of several complainants, alleges Milei formed part of a “criminal organisation that organised a fraud with the $LIBRA cryptocurrency that simultaneously affected more than 40,000 people with losses of more than $4 billion.”

The Kobeissi Letter, a publication that provides analysis on global capital markets, said on X last week that within minutes of its launch, “multiple large holders began liquidating MILLIONS of USD worth of $LIBRA.”

“This included gains of +$4 million or more as $LIBRA rose to $4.6 billion in market (capitalization),” it reported.

On Monday, Milei said he had “nothing to hide” from an investigation.

He said that those who carried out the transactions, including “a lot of bots,”  were people who “knew very well what the risk was.”

Nevertheless, former president and opposition figure Cristina Kirchner called Milei a “crypto-scammer” and opposition parliamentarians announced they would institute impeachment proceedings against him.

Any such proceedings would be highly unlikely to succeed, however, as they would require a two-thirds majority in the lower house.

Other parties are seeking the creation of a special parliamentary commission to question Milei.