Adorni Claims $600K Bitcoin Savings to Justify Wealth

Former Argentine Cabinet chief Manuel Adorni submitted a 78-page filing to federal prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita justifying his asset growth between December 2023 and June 2026. He denied paying $245,000 for renovations at his Indio Cuá home, stating the cost was $175,000.

Adorni claimed the declared dollars originated from the liquidation of eight Bitcoin wallets between 2017 and 2018, totaling $591,544.61. His lawyer, Matías Ledesma, argued the assets predate his public service and were verified via notarial act.

“It is, consequently, a pre-existing asset to the exercise of public office.”

The defense acknowledged the crypto purchases and sales occurred through in-person cash transactions without financial institutions. Adorni stated the dollars were kept at his home with his wife, Bettina Angeletti, partly reinvested and partly stored outside the banking system.

Cryptocurrency specialists analyzing public blockchain records challenged the narrative. They identified omissions in the sworn declaration and interactions with international corporate entities that contradict the claim of anonymous, physical street trades.

Experts also noted audiovisual records showing Adorni with apparent limited knowledge of digital markets during the period he now claims to have made substantial investments. Discrepancies were also found between the filing and prior Asset Declaration Office records regarding bank debts and alleged family loans.