WASHINGTON — The Trump family has significantly increased its wealth through the launch and trading debut of their cryptocurrency token, WLFI, issued by their company World Liberty Financial. As the token began trading on crypto exchanges this week, its market value pushed the family’s holdings to an estimated $5 billion, marking a substantial financial milestone tied to the Trump family’s growing cryptocurrency ventures.
World Liberty Financial, co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons, was originally announced last year during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign. The venture seeks to establish itself as a leading player in the crypto space, promising a “new era of finance” though thus far its main offerings remain the WLFI token and a stablecoin dubbed USD1. The corporate entity affiliated with the Trump family controls approximately 60% of World Liberty Financial, underscoring the family’s direct stake in the project.
According to public disclosures, certain family members of former President Trump collectively hold 22.5 billion WLFI tokens. When the token launched trading on Monday, it experienced a dramatic initial surge, hitting a peak value near 40 cents per token before settling to trade around 23 cents. This valuation settled the Trumps’ stake at around $5 billion, though this figure fluctuates with the volatile crypto market.
Despite the token’s strong start, the Trump family’s WLFI holdings remain locked under a “vesting schedule TBD,” meaning they cannot liquidate their positions immediately. The company has permitted token holders to sell up to 20% of their stakes, but the family’s stake is, for now, a paper valuation reflecting market prices rather than liquid assets. The company described these locking conditions in a statement issued on Monday, mitigating potential concerns about sudden sell-offs.
This crypto-related wealth surge coincides with growing concerns about conflicts of interest. Critics question the blending of Trump’s official roles and his family’s expanding crypto business, especially given Donald Trump’s public position as “Co-Founder Emeritus” of World Liberty Financial—though the company removed this title upon him taking office. The White House has denied any ethical conflicts arising from the Trump family’s crypto activities, emphasizing adherence to regulatory standards.
Investor sentiment towards the WLFI token has been mixed but lively. After the initial price spike, prices dipped as low as 21 cents before modestly recovering. Cryptocurrencies are inherently volatile, and as such, the actual value of the Trump family’s holdings will likely see rapid changes. The Trump family also retains investments in other crypto endeavors including the $TRUMP memecoin, further diversifying their digital asset portfolio.
Donald Trump once expressed skepticism toward cryptocurrencies but has since adopted a bullish stance, pledging during his second term plans to position the United States as a “crypto capital of the world.” Their crypto entrance and the valuation growth highlight a broader trend of prominent political figures engaging with blockchain technologies and digital currencies.
While many supporters hail the crypto move as innovative, various watchdog groups and Democratic lawmakers are voicing concerns about transparency and the intersection of politics and digital financial ventures, calling for closer scrutiny of the Trump family’s business dealings in the crypto industry.
The World Liberty Financial project’s success in climbing the crypto rankings quickly after launch suggests a deepening integration of the Trump family into the digital token economy, at least for the foreseeable future.
Reported by multiple sources including Fortune, ABC News, and CBS News.