Javier Milei’s government will be evaluating the creation of the so-called Argentine Digital Zone. A regime that would bring tax and labor benefits to startups in general, including those dedicated to services with crypto assets, within a delimited geographical area. This information was shared by an Argentine media and confirmed by the head of regulatory management of the NGO Crecimiento, an entity involved in the project, although there are discrepancies in the reports from both sources.
This announcement generated a controversy on social network X, given the fears that those involved in taking the project to the Ministry of Economy promote the creation of a token to finance the initiative. However, the legal head of Growth denies that this entity is appealing to said financing mechanism.
«The Digital Free Zone is a project created and registered by the Argentine Chamber of Emerging Companies (Startups), officially presented to National Government agencies within the framework of confidentiality agreements. “Its objective is to modernize the Argentine regulatory framework for startups and technology companies, inspired by successful models such as e-Estonia,” initially stated said Argentine media, using as input the statements of a supposed organization called “CAEE.”
Crecimiento also clarified, in direct communication with CriptoNoticias, that there are no legal registrations for a brand called “Digital Free Zone”, and they shared a report with evidence of this, denying the statements made by the Argentine media. The real name of the project is Zona Digital Argentinaand the publication of said patent report is due to the need to distance oneself after an “alleged Chamber of Argentine Entrepreneurs” claimed to have rights to the first brand.
At the time of writing in CriptoNoticias, the CAEE organization is not easily identifiable on the internet, and the closest reference points to a private capital company, based in Colombia, whose relationship with the project is diffuse or non-existent. The legal head of Growth claims to be unaware of said organization and the origin of these statements. In addition, Growth confirms that the name of the project is Zona Digital Argentina.
From his social network X, for his part, an Argentine developer who works on the Ethereum protocol assures having heard from multiple sources “that there are people in Argentina trying to raise funds to create a cryptocurrency-free economic zone managed by a private company, with plans to eventually launch a token.” Likewise, he criticized that the meetings of those involved with the government would be subject to confidentiality agreements, although the existence of an agreement of this kind was denied by Crecimiento.
From what I’ve seen, it seems likely that this will become another $LIBRA. Amending legislation to ensure a return on investment is not only feasible, it is also reputational damaging, undermines real reform and damages the image of the entire ecosystem.
Fede’s Intern, Ethereum developer.
In response to the developer, the legal head of Growth assured that discussions on the project have not been subject to confidentiality agreements, contradicting what was reported by the Argentine media.
We have been working on this for a while (a year and a half) in a very open way. You can check out a lot of resources and videos that explain to everyone what we’re trying to do ( + Regulatory Days and Roundtables. We’ve also had several conversations with the public sector presenting the project from the beginning and in relation to other initiatives (such as the CNV, which launched version 3 of the Sandbox today). A lot of hard work!
Fortunata.eth, Legal Head of Growth.
Likewise, the lawyer states that “there are no suspicious confidentiality agreements or plans to issue a token. And, honestly, we don’t know who these people from CAEE are or why they have been mixed up in the note,” in response to the developer’s concerns.
The Libra scandal, a token that was briefly promoted by Javier Milei in February 2025 before withdrawing his public support and distancing himself from the initiative, has eroded some of the trust in cryptocurrencies within Argentina. This, especially when the initiatives involve the government with private organizations.
«Mixing legal reforms in Argentina with token launches without a concrete practical reason leaves a bad taste in the mouth after LIBRA. “It makes essential and necessary legislative changes appear driven by personal greed, which, while false, makes the entire project seem unserious,” concludes the Ethereum developer.
According to a summary of the project, the Argentine Digital Zone aims to “position the country as hub regional innovation, technology and digital economy, combining global competitiveness with local impact on employment, exports and revenue.
The advancement of this project would allow, in the words of said summary, «launch the first 100% online platform and on-chain of the Southern Conewithout the need to enact a new law or expenditures from the public treasury.