An Argentine businesswoman has been charged in the US with alleged cryptocurrency fraud.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against New York-based Unicoin Inc. for alleged $100 million in fraud . The indictment alleges that the company made false statements to promote certificates tied to so-called “Unicoin tokens,” presented as secure, stable, and profitable cryptoassets . Among those named is Argentine businesswoman Silvina Moschini , the firm’s former president and current board member.

The SEC claims Unicoin lied about backing its tokens with real assets, such as an international property portfolio. “The real estate assets were worth a fraction of what the company claimed,” explained Mark Cave, associate director of the Division of Enforcement. Furthermore, most of the sales were deemed “illusory.”

The investigation revealed that Unicoin promoted its crypto assets as "next-generation" investments, supposedly backed by billions of dollars in real estate. However, according to the SEC, that backing was either nonexistent or extremely minor.

Another critical point was the claim that more than US$3 billion in certificates had been sold. In reality, the figure did not exceed US$110 million . They were also promoted as "SEC-registered" or "US-registered" products, which the agency itself denied.

Among the executive team accused of fraud is 53-year-old Argentine businesswoman Silvina Moschini , who played a leading role in the company's advertising campaigns. The firm launched ads in airports, New York taxis, on television, and on social media. According to the SEC, more than 5,000 investors were persuaded by the misleading messages.

" Unicoin 's top executives perpetrated the fraud," Cave said. The indictment alleges that they took advantage of the lack of regulation to lure small investors with unsubstantiated promises.

Although the case is still pending before the courts, the impact is already being felt in the market. The complaint has raised concerns among those investing in cryptoassets , a sector that has grown in recent years without strong controls.

For the SEC, this case reinforces the need for greater transparency. “Investors deserve truthful information. We will not tolerate empty promises,” Cave concluded.

The name of the Argentine businesswoman Silvina Moschini , the weight of the figures involved and the use of aggressive marketing strategies make this case a wake-up call for the world of digital investments .