Catenaa, Tuesday, March 17, 2026-Argentine investigators said that they had recovered a document outlining a suspected $5 million payment agreement tied to the promotion of the Libra memecoin by Argentine President Javier Milei, according to a report published Saturday by El Destape.
The file surfaced during a forensic review of devices seized from crypto lobbyist Mauricio Novelli as part of a criminal inquiry. Authorities said the note was created February 11, 2025, three days before Milei shared the Libra token online.
The document, written in English, described a three stage payment structure totaling $5 million linked to promotion of the token known as Libra memecoin.
The first payment involved $1.5 million in tokens or cash. Another $1.5 million depended on Milei publicly naming Hayden Davis as an adviser. A final $2 million payment would follow if a blockchain and artificial intelligence consulting agreement received presidential approval.
Investigators said the file did not list a direct recipient. Argentine media reports indicate the amount could relate to payments meant for intermediaries and individuals connected to the project. The suspected arrangement surfaced as authorities examined links between Novelli and associates tied to the token launch.
Call records reviewed by investigators show repeated communication around the moment Milei promoted Libra on social media February 14, 2025.
Records indicate several calls between Milei and Novelli within minutes before and after the post. Additional calls later that night involved government advisers and technology figures linked to the project as the token’s value dropped sharply.
Market data shows Libra briefly reached a market value above $4 billion shortly after the post. The token later lost more than 90 percent of its value within hours.
Blockchain analysis tied several wallets to large early sales totaling more than $100 million.
Argentina’s anti corruption authorities previously examined the episode and said Milei’s post appeared personal rather than an official government action. The president has denied wrongdoing throughout the investigation.
Legal proceedings continue in Argentina while civil litigation linked to the token collapse advances in US courts. Analysts say the case has become one of the most closely watched political controversies tied to cryptocurrency markets.
The probe could deepen scrutiny of political figures promoting digital assets as regulators and investors assess risks tied to memecoin markets.
The investigation into alleged payments linked to Libra promotion is intensifying pressure on Argentina’s government and raising fresh scrutiny of political involvement in cryptocurrency markets.
