Libra Meme Coin Scandal: Co-creator Hayden Davis Accused of Bribing Argentinian President's Sister

Get ready for some meme coin drama! Hayden Davis, a key player behind the controversial Libra token, is in hot water after allegedly boasting about buying influence over Argentinian President Javier Milei. This explosive claim comes just months after Libra's disastrous launch and crash, adding fuel to the fire of an ongoing anti-corruption investigation.

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According to leaked text messages reviewed by CoinDesk, Davis, who is the CEO of Kelsier Ventures, reportedly bragged in December that he could "control" President Milei. His alleged method? Payments to Karina Milei, the president's sister and a powerful figure within the Argentinian government.

In the shocking texts, Davis purportedly stated, "I control that n***", adding, "I send $$ to his sister and he signs whatever I say and does what I want." If true, this would be a major bombshell in the meme coin world and raises serious questions about the legitimacy of Libra's initial hype.

Text messages between Libra co-founder Hayden Davis (gray) and another individual. (Screenshot obtained by CoinDesk)

CoinDesk's source, who remains anonymous, provided these messages, sending ripples through the crypto community. When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Davis stated that Davis "does not recall sending such a message" and has no record of it on his phone.

The spokesperson further denied the accusations, claiming, "Recent media reports claiming I paid President Javier Milei or his sister, Karina Milei, to launch the Libra memecoin are completely false. I never made any payments to them, nor did they request any. Their only concern was ensuring proceeds from Libra would benefit Argentina’s people and economy." They framed the allegations as a "politically motivated attack" on President Milei.

Karina Milei, currently serving as General Secretary of the Presidency of the Argentine Nation, has not yet responded to requests for comment. As it stands, it remains unclear whether any actual payments were exchanged between Davis and Milei's inner circle prior to the launch of Libra.

These claims have significantly escalated the existing anti-corruption probe into President Milei, especially considering his public endorsement of the Libra meme coin on February 15th. Milei had touted Libra as a revolutionary way to fund small businesses, just before the token's dramatic pump and dump.

Remember the Libra launch? It was wild! Within hours, this Solana-based memecoin skyrocketed to $5 before crashing over 95%, leaving countless investors with empty bags. And guess who profited the most? Wallets linked to Davis and Kelsier Ventures reportedly raked in over $100 million in those chaotic early hours.

The fallout from the Libra scandal, now dubbed "criptogate" by Argentinian media, is massive. Opposition leaders are even talking about impeachment proceedings against President Milei. One crypto insider in Argentina described Milei as being in "damage control" as the scandal rocks the nation's stock market.

Adding another layer of intrigue, Davis allegedly boasted in December that he could also get Milei to promote ventures on social media. Milei's tweet about Libra two months later certainly fueled the meme coin's initial surge. However, the tweet was deleted just five hours later – after crypto investigators, also known as on-chain sleuths, uncovered suspicious activity related to Libra. By then, the damage was done, and Libra's price had already plummeted.

Update: Hayden Davis has denied making any payments to President Milei or his sister in a statement to CoinDesk. The investigation is ongoing, and the meme coin world is watching closely.