The Memo Found on Mauricio Novelli’s Phone: A Potential Key to the $LIBRA Crypto Scandal

A cryptic note recovered from the mobile phone of Mauricio Novelli, a lobbyist who facilitated a meeting between US businessman Mark Hayden Davis and Argentine President Javier Milei at the Casa Rosada, may prove pivotal in the judicial investigation into the launch of the $LIBRA cryptocurrency. This recovered document allegedly details a $5 million agreement tied to President Milei’s purported endorsement of the project, according to copies of the note obtained by LA NACION.

The note, discovered among Novelli’s phone entries and subsequently recovered by forensic experts from the Directorate of Technological Support for Criminal Investigation (Datip) of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), was reportedly intended to formalize understandings reached between Davis and his associates. While it is unclear if Novelli ever dispatched the memo, there is currently no evidence to suggest that the alleged agreement received official validation from any government entity.

Unveiling the Alleged Agreement

The recovered note, formatted as a "memo," purportedly states: "Hello friends, this is the final agreement discussed with H.," with "H." believed to be a reference to Hayden Davis. The memo then breaks down the purported financial commitments: "$1.5M in liquid tokens or cash as an advance. $1.5M in liquid tokens or cash = Milei announces on Twitter that his advisor is Hayden Davis/Kelsier/the Davis family. $2M in tokens or cash = contract signed in person with Milei for blockchain/AI advisory for the Argentine government and/or Javier Milei and review with Javier and Karina."

Composed between late October and November 2024, shortly before Davis’s visit to Argentina for a meeting at the Casa Rosada, the text outlines three distinct payments totaling $5 million. This sum aligns with the aggregate volume of transactions detected across virtual wallets by cybersecurity experts in recent months, adding a layer of financial corroboration to the alleged deal.

When approached for comment regarding the alleged $5 million agreement, Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni had not provided a response by the time of this report.

Chronology of Events and Corresponding Actions

The content of the memo, as first revealed by El Destape, appears to correspond with a series of subsequent events. On January 30, 2025, President Milei met with Davis at the Casa Rosada. Following this meeting, Milei posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that the American was "advising" him on blockchain and cryptocurrency matters, accompanied by a selfie of the two.

Further lending credence to the memo’s details, Milei and Davis signed a memorandum of understanding after their January 30, 2025 meeting at the Casa Rosada. Records accessed by LA NACION indicate that the promoter of $LIBRA entered the presidential palace at 1:56 PM that day, just one minute after Novelli and his associate, Manuel Terrones Godoy. The trio departed the executive residence at 2:31 PM.

Extensive Communication Trails

Recovered data from Novelli’s electronic devices also reveals that President Milei and his sister, Secretary General of the Presidency Karina Milei, engaged in over twenty phone calls and exchanged numerous messages with the lobbyist in the hours leading up to the launch of $LIBRA and in the aftermath of the cryptocurrency’s collapse on February 14, 2025, an event that triggered a significant scandal.

The call logs further indicate at least 14 communications with presidential advisor Santiago Caputo, who was then considered a key figure in the administration’s economic strategy. Additionally, there were three calls with Demian Reidel, the then-head of economic advisors.

The first recorded call between Caputo and Novelli occurred at 11:37 PM on Friday, February 14, the same day $LIBRA was launched and the crisis had already begun to unfold. This exchange was followed by a series of communications throughout Saturday, February 15, Sunday, February 16, and subsequent days.

During this period of intense activity, Novelli reportedly communicated his proposed strategy for the President to navigate the scandal and protect himself and others involved. These communications coincided with calls exchanged between Novelli, Karina Milei, and Santiago Caputo, often referred to as the "Kremlin Magician."

Proposed Presidential Statement and Subsequent Actions

In this context, incoming and outgoing call records from Novelli’s phone illustrate that on February 16, following a conversation with Caputo, Novelli drafted a message outlining what he believed should be posted on the President’s official X account to mitigate the crisis.

Novelli’s proposed tweet read: "Hello. This is what I want for the tweet. This is the only thing that saves him, me, and us." He then drafted the message as if it were from Milei: "I want to clarify that I fully support the vision of the Libra coin project. I personally met with all those involved and expressed my support for their objectives. While I have no financial interest in the project, I trust the people behind it. I am not very versed in memecoins, and when my political opponents started falsely accusing me of being…"

Ultimately, President Milei did not post Novelli’s proposed statement. Instead, he issued a tweet with a similar tone, stating: "A few hours ago, I published a tweet, as countless times before, supporting a supposed private venture with which I obviously have no connection whatsoever. I was not informed of the project’s details, and after becoming informed, I decided not to continue publicizing it (hence I have deleted the tweet)." He then criticized his adversaries: "To the filthy rats of the political caste who want to take advantage of this situation to cause harm, I want to tell you that every day they confirm how low they are."

The Day of the Launch: A Frenetic Sequence

On the day $LIBRA was launched, Novelli attempted to contact Karina Milei from Dallas more than an hour before the presidential tweet, unsuccessfully calling her at 5:53 PM. Less than an hour later, at 6:44 PM, Novelli tried to reach the President directly, also without success. He finally managed to connect with Milei’s mobile phone ten minutes later, for a call lasting one minute and 25 seconds.

At 6:56 PM, Novelli called the President’s phone again, with the call lasting 13 seconds.

One minute later, the website "Viva La Libertad Project" went live, ostensibly allowing small and medium-sized business owners to register for financing based on $LIBRA’s profitability. Another minute passed, and another contact was made between Milei’s and Novelli’s phones.

Following this rapid succession of contacts, at 7:01 PM, Milei’s tweet promoting $LIBRA was published. This tweet included the contract, a crucial element for potential investors, which was a 44-character alphanumeric code not previously published. Significantly, 22 seconds before the presidential tweet, 87 transactions from 74 different wallets purchased a total of $13,500,000 worth of the cryptocurrency.

The cryptocurrency subsequently plummeted in value following a significant liquidity withdrawal by a small number of wallets. Communications between Novelli’s phone and the Milei siblings continued until 10:25 PM that evening.

A Pattern of Access and Influence

The events of that night have a preceding context rooted in Mauricio Novelli’s numerous entries into the Casa Rosada. His first recorded visit was on January 8, 2024, less than a month into the libertarian administration’s tenure. Karina Milei authorized his entry, according to records obtained by LA NACION. Since then, Novelli has accessed the Casa Rosada at least nine times and the Quinta de Olivos (the presidential residence) three times, as per official documentation.

Novelli’s entries into the Casa Rosada coincide on three dates with those of Mark Hayden Davis, the proponent of $LIBRA. On July 16, the CEO of Kelsier Ventures visited the government headquarters, authorized by "K. Milei." On his last visit to the Casa Rosada on January 30, he took a photograph with the President. The day before, on January 29, Novelli had also entered the executive headquarters, authorized by "Milei K."

A more public interaction between Novelli and Milei occurred at the Tech Forum in October 2024. In contrast to the security-conscious environment of the Casa Rosada, Novelli demonstrated his proximity to the President at this gala, which he organized and which featured Milei’s participation. Also present was American entrepreneur Charles Hoskinson, who, after the $LIBRA scandal broke, recalled an incident involving an alleged request for money.

Hoskinson stated that he had been asked for money in exchange for facilitating a meeting in Argentina with President Milei, suggesting that "magical things would happen." He was photographed at the event in what appeared to be a subservient posture.

Broader Implications and Ongoing Investigation

The recovered memo and the extensive communication records paint a picture of deep involvement and potential influence peddling surrounding the $LIBRA cryptocurrency. The judicial investigation now faces the critical task of determining the veracity of the alleged $5 million agreement and its direct link to presidential endorsement.

The recovered note, if authenticated, could provide crucial evidence for prosecutors examining whether any public officials acted improperly or received undue benefits in connection with the $LIBRA project. The detailed breakdown of payments and the specific actions promised – such as presidential tweets and personal meetings – suggest a calculated effort to leverage political connections for financial gain.

The involvement of senior government figures, including President Milei, his sister Karina Milei, and key advisors like Santiago Caputo and Demian Reidel, raises significant questions about transparency and governance within the administration. The timeline of communications, particularly those occurring around the launch and subsequent collapse of $LIBRA, suggests a high degree of urgency and potential crisis management efforts.

The fact that the proposed presidential tweet, as drafted by Novelli, was not ultimately used, but a similar one was, indicates that while the administration may have been aware of the need to address the situation publicly, they chose a different narrative. This distinction could be critical in legal proceedings.

The ongoing investigation will likely focus on corroborating the details within Novelli’s recovered memo with independent evidence, including financial records, digital footprints, and witness testimonies. The judicial authorities will also be scrutinizing the nature of the advisory roles allegedly offered to Davis and his associates, and whether these constituted legitimate services or a cover for illicit dealings.

The revelation of this alleged agreement and the extensive communication logs marks a significant development in the $LIBRA scandal, potentially shifting the focus of the investigation towards the highest echelons of the Argentine government and the intricate web of influence that may have surrounded the ill-fated cryptocurrency launch. The coming weeks and months are expected to bring further clarity as the judicial process unfolds and more evidence is brought to light.