Report: DOJ Opens Probe Into Libra Token Case

The DOJ has allegedly already opened an investigation regarding President Javier Milei’s role in the promotion of Libra and the involvement of the project’s founders, Kelsier Ventures’ Hayden Davis, KIP Protocol’s Julian Peh, and two Argentine entrepreneurs, in the scheme.

DOJ Starts Libra Case Investigation

Libra, the cryptocurrency project made famous by the endorsement of Argentina’s President Javier Milei and its subsequent debacle, is reportedly the subject of an investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ). According to local media, people with knowledge of the issue confirmed that there is a probe in its early stages.

The probe was started by the fraud section of the criminal division in the department, which is generally tasked with solving complex economic crimes involving U.S. entities abroad. La Nacion reports that the investigation follows an initial crime report that points to the involvement of President Javier Milei, mentioning Kelsier Ventures’ Hayden Adams, KIP Protocol’s Julian Peh, Mauricio Novelli, and Manuel Terrones Godoy as part of the Libra scheme.

The probe might expand to include several agencies of the U.S. government, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is already rumored to be already working on the issue, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Libra, which is referred to by some erroneously as a meme coin, was first shared by Milei on social media as a token directed to help Argentine companies get funding. The endorsement prompted thousands to jump onto the token, losing millions after its price tumbled.

Read more: The Libra Incident: Examining Argentine President Javier Milei’s Confusing Token Endorsement and Its Destructive Aftermath

The case is also being investigated by Argentine authorities, who would be looking into Milei’s relationship with the founders of the project, examining the possibility of authority abuse crimes, influence peddling, and fraud.

While Milei ordered an internal investigation, he also denied having any responsibility for Libra’s operations. He declared that he did not endorse the project, that he merely shared it, and that most of the affected were aware of the implicit dangers of the trade, calling them “volatility operators.”

Read more: Javier Milei Denies Responsibility in Libra Debacle: ‘If You Go to the Casino and Lose Money, That’s Your Problem’