The Argentine president, Javier Milei, is embroiled in an international scandal following a New York Times investigation published on March 1 that links him to a corruption case involving entrepreneurs in the crypto sector. According to the report, during the Argentina Tech Forum held in October of last year, a consultant close to the president allegedly solicited bribes to facilitate meetings with him.
Specifically, Mauricio Novelli, who organized the event and is connected to Milei, reportedly charged up to $50,000 for a spot on the speaker list and a meeting with the president, which mostly resulted in only group photos. Additionally, there is mention of an alleged offer for a meeting and an alliance with the Government in exchange for $90 million in cryptocurrencies over a period of 27 months. However, the outlet clarifies that there is no evidence that the Argentine president was aware of these actions.
Novelli defended himself against the accusations by denying his involvement in the development of $LIBRA, claiming that he only provided commercial and technical advice to the companies responsible for the cryptocurrency. In a leaked audio, Hayden Davis, another entrepreneur linked to the $LIBRA scandal, boasts of his influence over Milei and his actions.
The scandal, known as Cryptogate $LIBRA, has generated significant repercussions in the markets and has placed Milei's administration under the scrutiny of the international press. As a result, Argentina finds itself at the center of global attention, adding a new episode to the controversy in the libertarian government.
