Nazia Saeed
- WLFI trading goes live following a near-unanimous community vote
- Trump-linked entities and family members hold billions of WLFI tokens
- Lawmakers raise concerns over potential conflicts as Trump’s crypto earnings grow
World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token has officially entered the trading phase after 99.94% of token holders voted in favor of unlocking the asset for market participation. The decision, confirmed on Wednesday, opens a new chapter for the Trump-affiliated decentralized finance project and may significantly expand former President Donald Trump’s digital asset portfolio.
Launched last year as a dual-token DeFi platform, World Liberty Financial offers both a governance token (WLFI) and a stablecoin. The newly approved proposal transitions the platform from a closed ecosystem where tokens were non-tradable and limited to governance to a more open marketplace, where speculation and liquidity can now begin.
Early trading starts, but full unlock still awaits
WLFI tokens were initially sold in two funding rounds, priced at $0.015 and $0.05. Early backers received governance rights and exclusive event access, including a high-profile dinner with Trump in May attended by figures like Tron’s Justin Sun. However, these tokens were previously locked from trading.
Newsletter
Get weekly updates on the newest crypto stories, case studies and tips right in your mailbox.
With trading now live, price discovery for WLFI will begin though only early investor tokens are currently unlocked. A second vote will determine when the rest of the 100 billion token supply becomes available. Founder and team allocations remain under longer vesting schedules, a move aimed at signaling long-term commitment.
The WLFI rollout comes amid a sharp increase in Trump’s crypto-linked wealth. A Bloomberg report estimates the Trump family has earned around $390 million from WLFI-related activity, with a broader crypto portfolio now totaling $620 million. Trump’s personal holdings as of late last year included 15.75 billion WLFI tokens, while DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity associated with the former president, is slated to receive 22.5 billion tokens.
Trump ties under fire as lawmakers demand transparency
WLFI’s leadership structure is heavily intertwined with Trump’s inner circle. His three sons serve as official advisors to the project, while real estate executive and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff a longtime Trump ally plays a central role. Witkoff’s sons, Zach and Alex, are listed as co-founders.
Despite the commercial enthusiasm, Trump’s growing involvement in the crypto sector has triggered political backlash. Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Maxine Waters, have called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate possible conflicts of interest related to Trump’s digital asset ventures, including WLFI, Bitcoin mining, and stablecoin development.
While the White House maintains that Trump’s holdings are managed in a trust overseen by his children, no public details have been provided on its structure. Trump remains the sole beneficiary, meaning he could legally access the assets either during or after his time in office.
Still, many supporters see WLFI’s debut as more than just a political controversy it’s a potential windfall. “We invested to get rich,” one user wrote on the World Liberty website. Another simply posted: “To make America great again.”
As WLFI trading begins and eyes turn to the next vote, both investors and regulators are watching closely to see how deep the Trump-crypto connection will go.
