LIBRA: From Skyrocketing Success to a Devastating Crash
The latest memecoin craze, which gained momentum after the launch of TRUMP token backed by Donald Trump, may have reached its breaking point—the LIBRA token fiasco.
The project, built on the Solana blockchain and promoted by Argentinian President Javier Milei, saw its market cap soar to $4.5 billion, only to crash by over 80% within hours as insiders cashed out, leaving many retail investors with heavy losses.
The incident quickly became an international political scandal when Milei deleted his tweet endorsing LIBRA, denied any association with the project, and blamed the political opposition for manipulating the situation. Soon after, Argentina’s opposition party discussed impeachment, causing instability in the country’s stock market.
But the controversy deepened—leaked messages revealed that a key figure behind LIBRA claimed to have paid for access to Milei’s inner circle months before the token's launch and collapse.
🔥 Is This the End of the Memecoin Era?
Memecoin scams are nothing new, but this incident highlights the risks of unregulated trading. According to FRNT Financial, LIBRA could be a turning point for the entire sector.
📉 "At this point, memecoins are synonymous with ‘pump and dump’ schemes.” – FRNT Financial
Analysts suggest that interest in memecoins has been fading following the hype around TRUMP and MELANIA, with this latest controversy further damaging the sector’s reputation.
Chris Chung, founder of Titan, a Solana-based swap platform, emphasized the need for greater accountability in DeFi:
💬 "The $LIBRA fiasco should serve as a reminder that we in the DeFi community have a responsibility to make this space safer for users."
🔎 How the “Fiasko” Unfolded
The entire LIBRA saga played out within days, starting on February 14.
🔹 The token launched on Solana-based DEX Meteora, with Milei posting (and later deleting) a tweet claiming LIBRA was meant to help Argentina’s economy grow—a massive endorsement for a memecoin.
🔹 The token’s market cap surged to $4.4 billion within hours before insiders dumped their holdings, pocketing nearly $100 million, according to on-chain analysis.
🔹 The next day, Milei deleted his tweet, sparking panic among memecoin holders and triggering massive sell-offs in TRUMP, MELANIA, and similar tokens.
🔹 Solana (SOL), the blockchain supporting LIBRA, saw its native token drop as well.
🔹 The Argentine opposition called for Milei’s impeachment, intensifying the political fallout.
📉 The result? LIBRA wiped out $4.5 billion in retail capital within seven hours and now holds a market cap of just $500,000.
👀 Insider Trading and Controversial Figures
Several high-profile figures were linked to the LIBRA scandal, including Dave Portnoy, Threadguy, Hayden Davis, and FaZe Banks.
🔹 Portnoy admitted to being an early investor and claimed he was refunded, fueling speculation that insiders had an unfair advantage.
🔹 Davis, who was behind both LIBRA and MELANIA, denied it was a "rug pull", instead calling it "a plan that failed miserably."
Meanwhile, Ben Chow, co-founder of DEX Meteora, resigned on February 17 amid the controversy.
🚨 Shocking revelation: On February 18, leaked messages suggested Davis claimed he could "control" Milei due to alleged payments to Karina Milei, the president’s sister and a powerful figure in his administration.
⚠️ What’s Next for Memecoins?
This entire controversy suggests that the memecoin market is at a turning point.
🔹 Institutional investors are shifting focus to BTC and ETH, while memecoins remain the most volatile and unpredictable crypto segment.
🔹 Reputation damage and increased scrutiny could lead to declining interest in the sector.
Chris Chung warned:
💬 "This whole story is a massive setback for the crypto space. If we want to attract new retail users, this is NOT the way to do it."
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