Libra Co-Creator Allegedly Boasted About Paying Javier Milei’s Sister to Promote Token

In a recent scandal, Hayden Davis, one of the co-creators of the controversial Libra crypto token, reportedly bragged about paying Karina Milei, the sister of Argentine President Javier Milei, to secure the president’s endorsement of the token. According to a February 18 report by Argentine media outlet La Nacion, Davis, also the CEO of Kelsier Ventures, allegedly sent text messages claiming he could financially compensate Karina Milei in exchange for her brother's promotion of the memecoin on social media platform X.

The leaked messages, reportedly sent by Davis in December 2023, suggest he was willing to pay Karina to “control” her brother, ensuring he would publicly support the Libra token. In one text message, Davis allegedly said, “We can also have Milei tweet and meet in person and do promo.” Another message reportedly reads, “I send $$ to his sister and he does whatever I say and does what I want.”

The crypto investment firm executive who received the messages rejected Davis’ offer, according to the report. Davis, however, has denied the allegations. A spokesperson for him told CoinDesk that he did not recall sending the messages and has no record of them on his phone. Furthermore, Davis denied making any payments to either Javier or Karina Milei.

Karina Milei, who currently serves as the general secretary of Argentina’s presidential office, is known for her close ties to her brother, regularly accompanying him on his official overseas trips. The controversy surrounding her and Davis has drawn significant attention, especially since the Libra token’s meteoric rise and crash.

The Libra token, created by Davis and Kelsier Ventures, saw its market cap peak at $4.5 billion, before experiencing a dramatic 95% drop in value. Davis, who was among the biggest beneficiaries of the token’s launch, reportedly earned around $100 million. However, he has denied owning any of the tokens or intending to sell them.

As the scandal continues to unfold, Javier Milei has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he did not “promote” the Libra token, despite accusations to the contrary. “I did not promote that. What I did, I spread the word,” Milei stated in an interview with Todo Noticias on February 17. This was his first public statement regarding the controversy, which has sparked calls from the opposition for his impeachment.

The president insisted that the issue surrounding the token was a private matter, involving only the individuals directly involved in the launch. “The state plays no role here,” Milei added, while acknowledging that the situation has been a learning experience. He emphasized the need to set clearer boundaries on what conduct is acceptable, indicating that he had learned lessons from the ordeal.

As the story develops, many continue to question the extent of the Milei family's involvement in the controversial crypto venture and what it means for the president's political future.