LIBRA New Evidence: Cardano Contract Exposed, Founder Claims to Have Rejected Proposal

In the criminal case related to LIBRA handled in Buenos Aires, the court complainant obtained a forensic analysis file last week from the Office of the Argentine Public Prosecutor’s Criminal Investigation and Technical Support Bureau (DATIP), which contains a large amount of data recovered from the mobile phone of Mauricio Novelli, a main suspect involved in LIBRA.

Core Terms of the Cardano Contract

The unsigned contract agreement found in the forensic file includes: Novelli, Manuel Terrones Godoy, and Sergio Morales (collectively referred to as the “Argentine Partners”), as well as Kelsier Holdings Limited, associated with American entrepreneur Hayden Davis. The contract’s effective date is marked as October 16, 2024, but the signing date is noted as November 27.

The contract’s objectives include: “Ensuring that the efforts of the Argentine government and relevant parties align with Cardano’s strategic goals,” and “Positioning Charles Hoskinson as a key contributor to Argentina’s Web3 technology public policy.” The contract also mentions the Cardano constitutional convention held in Buenos Aires and support clauses that only take effect after the “IOG/Cardano transaction signing.”

The main financial terms are as follows: revenue sharing of 65% (Kelsier Holdings) versus 35% (Argentine Partners); an initial prepayment of $300,000 USD in the first month (half paid upfront, half upon signing); and an additional $250,000 USD monthly starting from January 2025.

Hoskinson’s Response and Sponsorship Background of the Forum

Hoskinson explicitly denied signing or authorizing this draft contract during an interview with BeInCrypto: “Mr. Davis sent us this proposal. We did not understand it, nor did we think it would be effective, so we politely declined his offer. Later, I publicly mentioned this in a video. We have never directly discussed this proposal with Milei or any of his staff.”

BeInCrypto found no evidence in the reviewed data that Hoskinson signed or authorized this draft agreement.

Regarding the audio files in Mauricio Novelli’s phone under the folder labeled “Charles Hoskinson” (sent on November 15, 2024), Hoskinson stated: “I don’t remember any recordings, nor do I recall directly speaking with Novelli. His number is not in my phone.”

Hoskinson’s Connection to the Argentine Tech Forum

Sponsorship Role: Purchased the “Black Card” (highest level) sponsorship for $50,000 USD, which includes one keynote speech and one panel discussion opportunity.

Motivation for Speaking: Hoskinson said he initially thought it was an opportunity to introduce Cardano to Argentine government and business decision-makers, but later discovered the forum had become a showcase for multiple blockchains, conducted without his knowledge.

Bribery Allegation: Hoskinson stated that someone at the event attempted to bribe him under the pretext of “arranging a meeting.” He refused, citing violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), after which the individual ceased contact.

Call Records: Mauricio Novelli and Milei’s Contact Around LIBRA Launch

One of the most critical parts of the forensic evidence is the call records on the day LIBRA was launched. Minutes before the LIBRA tweet was posted, Novelli attempted to contact Karina Milei (the president’s sister and secretary-general) but was rejected. He then called Javier Milei, who did not answer. After a second call, the call lasted less than two minutes. Within the next five minutes, they had two more calls. After the LIBRA tweet was posted, Novelli and Milei had three additional calls.

According to data from research firm Nansen, this LIBRA tweet ultimately caused 86% of investors in LIBRA to incur losses. Furthermore, evidence shows that Novelli and Milei had established a close relationship as early as 2021, and two months before the LIBRA scandal broke, Milei had already participated in a nearly identical KIP token issuance plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Has the Cardano contract found in the forensic data been officially enacted?
A: No. The contract is marked as “unsigned.” Hoskinson confirmed to BeInCrypto that he politely rejected the proposal after receiving it and publicly mentioned this in a previous YouTube livestream. No evidence was found in the forensic data that he authorized or signed the contract.

Q: What is the connection between the LIBRA scandal and Cardano?
A: The forensic data shows that Mauricio Novelli, the main suspect, has an unsigned contract aimed at aligning the Argentine government with Cardano’s strategic goals and leveraging Milei’s government connections to expand Cardano’s influence in Argentina. Hoskinson emphasized that he rejected this proposal and was unaware of the depth of Novelli’s relationship with Milei.

Q: What is the significance of the call records regarding the LIBRA case?
A: The call records recovered by DATIP show multiple communications between Novelli, Javier Milei, and Karina Milei before and after the LIBRA tweet, including intensive calls minutes before the tweet was posted. This evidence is crucial for the investigation to assess whether Milei was aware of the LIBRA token issuance in advance.