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Hayden Davis

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Hayden Davis
Person
Also known asKelsier Ventures
Kelsier Labs
Rolefounder
Known forCEO of Kelsier Ventures; self-described "facilitator" of the LIBRA token promoted by Javier Milei

Hayden Davis is a US entrepreneur and CEO of Kelsier Ventures who described himself as a "facilitator" of Libra, the Solana token promoted by Argentine President Javier Milei on 2025-02-14 that collapsed within hours.[1][2] He is a defendant in a US class action over the token and has denied wrongdoing.[3]

Background[edit]

Cointelegraph reported that Kelsier Ventures was co-founded by Davis and his siblings Gideon and Thomas Davis; Decrypt calls the firm Kelsier Labs.[3][4] According to media reports cited by the Buenos Aires Herald, he visited Argentina at least three times in 2024 and told conference attendees he could broker access to Milei; a photo of him with Milei was posted on X.[2]

Notable trades[edit]

Libra

  • 2025-02-14: Milei posted LIBRA's contract address on X; the price passed $5, then fell to near zero within hours after roughly $80–100 million was withdrawn, according to the Buenos Aires Herald.[2] Cointelegraph put the peak at a $4.6 billion market cap; Decrypt, citing DEX Screener, put it at $1.17 billion before a 97% fall in 24 hours.[3][4]
  • 2025-02-17: in an interview with YouTuber Coffeezilla, Davis said the team bought at launch to "get all the snipers out, or at least control them", that he controlled team wallets holding over $100 million as custodian, and that this was a plan that went wrong rather than a rug pull.[1] He said almost every memecoin launch involves insider trading and named Mauricio Novelli, Manuel Godoy and KIP Protocol as central members of the project.[1]

Melania Meme

Davis told Coffeezilla the Melania Meme team also sniped that token at launch.[1] On 2025-02-17 Bubblemaps said it was "highly confident" one entity ran both launches: a wallet that made over $2.4 million sniping MELANIA sent funds to an Avalanche address that later funded LIBRA's main creator wallet.[5]

YZY

On 2025-08-25 Decrypt reported Bubblemaps' claim that 44 wallets it believes Davis controls link the MELANIA team wallet, the LIBRA sniper wallet and 14 wallets that bought Kanye West's YZY token within a minute of its announcement, investing about $2.8 million for about $12 million profit.[6] Davis has defended sniping of tokens he helped launch but denied doing it himself; Kelsier did not respond to Decrypt.[6]

Controversies[edit]

US litigation

  • 2025-03: LIBRA buyers led by Omar Hurlock, represented by Burwick Law, sued Kelsier, KIP Protocol and Meteora, alleging the Davis siblings created LIBRA and siphoned over $100 million from one-sided liquidity pools.[3]
  • 2025-05: the court ordered Circle to freeze about $57.65 million in USDC allegedly tied to the project.[3]
  • 2025-07: Davis moved to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, saying he does not live or do business in New York.[3]
  • 2025-08: Judge Jennifer Rochon lifted the freeze on $57.6 million in USDC held by Davis and Meteora co-founder Ben Chow, finding they were not "evasive actors" and saying she was "skeptical" the plaintiffs would succeed; Davis's counsel called the case meritless.[4] Burwick filed a further suit alleging fraud, RICO violations, conspiracy and unjust enrichment.[2]

Argentina

Prosecutor Eduardo Taiano opened a federal investigation about a week after the launch.[2] Argentina's Anti-Corruption Office cleared Milei in June 2025; a congressional committee in November 2025 found Milei gave "essential collaboration" to the project.[7] On 2026-03-15 The Block, citing El Destape, reported a note from Novelli's phone describing a $5 million payment structure "discussed with H", which El Destape believes refers to Davis; no response from Davis was reported.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Libra memecoin 'facilitator' Hayden Davis admits team sniped token at launch, The Block, 2025-02-17
  2. ^ $LIBRA crypto scandal: What's the status of the legal inquiry in Argentina and the US?, Buenos Aires Herald, 2025-08-08
  3. ^ LIBRA token creator fights class suit, citing lack of jurisdiction, Cointelegraph, 2025-07-11
  4. ^ Libra Promoters Regain Access to $57.6 Million in Crypto After Judge Unfreezes Assets, Decrypt, 2025-08-20
  5. ^ Bubblemaps links single entity to Libra and Melania memecoins, The Block, 2025-02-17
  6. ^ Libra Wallets Linked to Hayden Davis Made $12 Million on Kanye West's Meme Coin, Decrypt, 2025-08-25
  7. ^ Probe reveals document detailing alleged $5 million deal linking Milei to Libra promotion: report, The Block, 2026-03-15
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