Bitcoin Advocate Takes Lead in Argentine Open Primaries

An Argentine politician who supports Bitcoin and calls for the abolition of his country’s central bank has seized the lead in the open primaries for the presidency.

With over 90% of votes tabulated, Javier Milei, a libertarian who supports Bitcoin, is in the lead with nearly 32%.

According to Bloomberg data, he is trailed by the conservative Together for Change (Juntos por el Cambio) party with just under 30%.

The Union for the Homeland (Unión por la Patria) coalition, which represents the current government, is third with just over 28.5% of the vote.

Milei founded and directs the coalition Liberty Advances (La Libertad Avanza), whose views have been described as libertarian to far-right. Milei identifies as an anarcho-capitalist and has advocated for the abolition of Argentina’s central bank, labeling it a “scam.”

He also believes that the sale of human organs should be legal and denies the existence of global warming.

He has stated that Bitcoin is a reaction against “central bank scammers” and that legal currency permits legislators to defraud Argentinians through inflation.

He has stated that Bitcoin is a reaction against “central bank scammers” and that legal currency permits legislators to defraud Argentinians through inflation.

Clearly, such rhetoric has been well received by Argentine voters, who are confronted with an annual inflation rate of 116% the worst in over three decades which is exacerbating the country’s cost of living crisis.

The general presidential election in Argentina will be held on October 22. A candidate must receive at least 45 percent of the vote to obtain the presidency otherwise, a runoff election will be held in November.