The LIBRA Cryptocurrency and the scandal.

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In February 2025, a cryptocurrency called $LIBRA caused a major scandal in Argentina. This involved President Javier Milei and led to massive financial losses for many investors. The event raised serious concerns about cryptocurrency scams and the dangers of investing in unregulated digital assets.

### What Was $LIBRA?
$LIBRA was a new cryptocurrency launched on February 14, 2025, by a company called KIP Protocol. It was created on the Solana blockchain, a popular platform for fast and cheap cryptocurrency transactions.

The idea behind $LIBRA was unclear, but many people believed it was a government-backed project because President Milei promoted it. This led to a rush of investors hoping it would become Argentina’s official digital currency.

### Why Did $LIBRA Become Popular?
1. **Presidential Endorsement** – President Javier Milei promoted $LIBRA on his official social media accounts, saying it could help Argentina’s economy by funding small businesses.
2. **Public Excitement** – Many Argentines were already interested in cryptocurrency as a way to protect their savings from inflation. They saw $LIBRA as a safe investment.
3. **Rapid Price Surge** – After Milei’s promotion, $LIBRA’s price skyrocketed, and its total market value (market capitalization) hit $4.5 billion in just a few hours.

### What Went Wrong?
Shortly after reaching its peak, $LIBRA’s value crashed by 89%, leaving many investors with huge losses. Here’s why:

– **Suspicious Withdrawals** – Investigators found that some wallets connected to the creators of $LIBRA withdrew large amounts of money just before the crash.
– **Signs of a Scam** – This behavior suggested a “rug pull,” a type of scam where developers hype up a cryptocurrency, attract investors, then sell off their holdings and abandon the project.
– **No Real-World Use** – Unlike stablecoins or official digital currencies, $LIBRA had no clear function or backing, making it highly risky.

### The Fallout: Political and Legal Consequences
1. **Political Crisis** – The scandal caused a huge backlash against President Milei. Many opposition leaders accused him of fraud and called for his impeachment.
2. **Legal Investigations** – Authorities launched an investigation to determine if Milei personally profited from the scam or if he was misled.
3. **Public Distrust in Crypto** – Many Argentines, who previously saw crypto as a way to protect their money from inflation, became more skeptical about digital currencies.

### Key Lessons from the LIBRA Scandal
– **Don’t Trust Celebrity Endorsements** – Just because a politician or famous person promotes a cryptocurrency doesn’t mean it’s legitimate.
– **Always Research Before Investing** – Check if a cryptocurrency has real-world use, regulatory approval, and trustworthy developers.
– **Be Wary of “Get Rich Quick” Schemes** – If a new cryptocurrency’s value rises too fast, it could be a scam or part of a pump-and-dump scheme.
– **Crypto Scams Are Increasing** – Governments around the world are working to regulate digital assets, but scams still exist. Investors must stay informed and cautious.

The $LIBRA scandal serves as a strong reminder that while cryptocurrencies offer opportunities, they also carry risks. Always invest wisely and never put in money you can’t afford to lose.

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