Argentine President Javier Milei is facing a corruption probe into his promotion of a meme coin, which is a highly speculative form of cryptocurrency that’s seen a recent surge in popularity after President Donald Trump and his wife launched tokens of their own.

The controversy has turned what was once a promising regulatory path into political quicksand, leaving Argentina’s crypto landscape in turmoil. The promise of crypto regulation in Argentina, once fueled by the rise of pro-crypto president Javier Milei in late 2023,

An estimated 86% of crypto traders that took positions in a memecoin endorsed by Argentine President Javier Milei on Friday ended up losing money, according to research firm Nansen.