Argentine Court Orders Phone Search of President Milei in LIBRA Scandal: Key Details Uncovered (2025)

• Why Is Argentina’s President Under Investigation for the LIBRA Scandal?
• What Evidence Will the Phone Analysis Reveal?
• How Did LIBRA’s Collapse Trigger Global Legal Actions?
• What’s Next for Milei and Crypto Regulation in Argentina?
• Key Takeaways From the LIBRA Investigation
• FAQs: The LIBRA Scandal Explained

In a dramatic turn of events, Argentina’s judiciary has authorized a forensic search of President Javier Milei’s phone—along with devices belonging to his inner circle—as part of the ongoing LIBRA meme coin scandal. The investigation, led by federal prosecutor Eduardo Taiano, aims to trace communications, geolocation data, and deleted files tied to the alleged "rug pull" scheme that wiped out billions in investor funds. This article breaks down the key players, timelines, and global legal fallout from the controversy that rocked crypto markets last year.

Why Is Argentina’s President Under Investigation for the LIBRA Scandal?

The probe centers on Milei’s February 2024 tweet endorsing the LIBRA token, which propelled its market cap to $4 billion before insiders abruptly cashed out $100+ million—a classic "pump and dump." Prosecutors suspect Milei may have coordinated with promoters Hayden Mark Davis, Mauricio Novelli, and Manuel Terrones Godoy. As reported by CoinDesk, the court order covers 13 phone numbers linked to Milei, analyzing messages across WhatsApp, Telegram, and social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) for keywords including "rug pull," "sniper buys," and exchanges such as Binance and BTCC.

What Evidence Will the Phone Analysis Reveal?

Taiano’s team will reconstruct Milei’s communications from July 12–19, 2023 (pre-launch) and February 13–16, 2024 (post-crash), per court documents seen by Bloomberg. They’ll recover deleted wallet apps like Phantom/Solflare and trace contacts with crypto figures including Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson and Ripio’s Sebastián Serrano. Notably, the search extends to Milei’s sister Karina (General Secretary of the Presidency) and ex-securities regulator Sergio Morales—raising questions about regulatory collusion.

How Did LIBRA’s Collapse Trigger Global Legal Actions?

After Milei deleted his promotional tweet, U.S. firm Burwick Law filed a class-action lawsuit citing investor losses. Argentine congressional hearings followed, with opposition lawmakers accusing Milei of "financial terrorism." TradingView charts show LIBRA’s price nosedived 98% within 72 hours of the rug pull. "This wasn’t just a meme coin failure—it was a calculated heist," remarked BTCC analyst Claudia Fernández in a recent webinar.

What’s Next for Milei and Crypto Regulation in Argentina?

With midterm elections looming, the scandal has emboldened critics of Milei’s pro-crypto policies. The president now claims he merely "shared" LIBRA as a curiosity, calling its crash "a slap in the face" during a contentious interview with La Nación. Meanwhile, Argentina’s SEC equivalent has fast-tracked legislation to ban celebrity-endorsed tokens—a MOVE CoinMarketCap data suggests could impact 37% of local crypto projects.

Key Takeaways From the LIBRA Investigation

• Timeline: Critical dates include LIBRA’s launch (July 2023), Milei’s tweet (February 12, 2024), and the crash (February 14–16, 2024).
• Players: Inner circle (Karina Milei, Sergio Morales), promoters (Davis/Novelli), and crypto execs (Hoskinson, Serrano).
• Data Targets: Deleted messages, wallet apps, and geolocation pings during key periods.