An Argentine federal judge has ordered 25 crypto wallets frozen across four major exchanges — Binance, Bybit, OKX, and Bitfinex — in connection with the LIBRA memecoin investigation. The order, issued by Judge Martnez de Giorgi, marks a significant escalation in Argentina's scrutiny of the controversial token. The affected exchanges have been instructed to freeze the wallets immediately, though it's unclear how many funds are involved.
The judge's order
Judge Martnez de Giorgi's ruling targets wallets linked to the LIBRA memecoin, a project that has drawn regulatory attention in Argentina. The order applies to wallets on the four exchanges, which are among the largest in the crypto space. The judge did not specify the names of the wallet holders or the exact amount of assets frozen, but the move signals that authorities are narrowing in on the individuals behind the token.
Exchanges named
Binance, Bybit, OKX, and Bitfinex each received the court order this week. The exchanges are expected to comply with the freeze, though none have publicly commented on the ruling. The four platforms operate globally but have faced increasing pressure from regulators in Argentina and elsewhere to cooperate with local law enforcement. The judge's order is binding and requires the exchanges to lock the wallets until further notice.
The LIBRA investigation
LIBRA is a memecoin that gained traction in Argentina earlier this year, but its rapid rise drew scrutiny from financial regulators. The investigation appears to focus on potential fraud or market manipulation tied to the token's launch. Tuesday's wallet freeze is the first public action by a judge in the case, suggesting the probe is moving from information-gathering to enforcement.
The frozen wallets will remain inaccessible pending the outcome of the investigation. The judge may order additional freezes or request information from the exchanges about the wallet owners. The LIBRA team or token holders affected by the order could challenge the ruling in court, but no such challenge has been filed yet. For now, the case is a clear signal that Argentine authorities are willing to take direct action against crypto projects they see as problematic.
