Call Logs Deepen Scrutiny of Milei Over Alleged $5 Million Libra Deal

Argentine President Javier Milei promoted Libra on X on Feb. 14, 2025, presenting the token as a vehicle to finance small businesses and startups. His endorsement drove its market value to about $4 billion before it plunged more than 94% within hours, leaving more than 40,000 retail investors with roughly $250 million in losses. The collapse triggered a federal criminal investigation, fraud complaints and opposition calls for impeachment, making the episode a test of political accountability in crypto promotion.

Forensic material made public on March 15, 2026, showed a Feb. 11, 2025 draft recovered from crypto lobbyist Mauricio Novelli’s iPhone. It outlined $1.5 million upfront, another $1.5 million if Milei endorsed Hayden Davis, Kelsier or the Davis family on X, and $2 million after an in-person blockchain and AI consulting contract with the Argentine government. Separately, call records reviewed by The New York Times and reported on April 7 showed seven calls between Milei and a Libra-linked entrepreneur around his post. The calls’ contents remain unknown, and the draft did not identify a recipient.