Trump’s WLFI Project Shifts to Open Governance and Trading

In a major step forward for Donald Trump’s crypto ambitions, tokenholders of World Liberty Financial (WLFI) — the blockchain project publicly backed by the U.S. President and his family — have overwhelmingly voted to make the token tradable.

The proposal, which was submitted to the community on July 9, closed on Wednesday with a resounding 99.94% voting “yes” to unlock WLFI’s governance token for trading. 

That decision now paves the way for the token to hit peer-to-peer marketplaces and secondary exchanges, unlocking new possibilities for value discovery and, potentially, a whole lot of speculation.

What This Means for WLFI and Its Tokenholders

So, what happens next? Well, WLFI is not flinging open the doors all at once. According to the team’s announcement on X, the token unlock will happen in stages. 

The launch plan is “coming soon,” and only a portion of the governance tokens — specifically those purchased by early supporters — will be eligible to trade in the initial phase.

As for the rest of the tokens? They’ll remain locked until a second community vote determines their fate. Importantly, tokens allocated to WLFI’s founders, team members, and advisers are also staying put for now, with their own unlock schedules to be revealed down the road.

Once tradable, these tokens will empower holders to weigh in on key decisions like ecosystem incentives, token emissions, and future use of treasury funds.

The Money Trail: WLFI’s Token Sales

WLFI made waves with its token sales. Back in October 2024, the project sold 20 billion tokens at $0.015 a pop, raising roughly $300 million. Then, in January, they did it again — but at a much higher price of $0.05 per token — and secured another $250 million by selling 5 billion tokens.

With $550 million raised in total, the project positioned itself as one of the most well-funded politically tied crypto ventures in recent memory.

Trump, Tokens, and Transparency

WLFI has been closely associated with Donald Trump and his family since its launch on Sept. 16, 2024. The president, along with sons Eric, Donald Jr., and Barron Trump, openly supported the project — and, according to a June 2025 financial disclosure, Trump personally raked in a whopping $57 million in profits from WLFI.

However, it seems the Trump family is scaling back its involvement. As of June, they hold a 40% stake in the platform, down from a much larger share earlier in the year.

Meanwhile, the WLFI team is making moves to stay compliant and transparent. Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs has been brought on board to provide transaction monitoring — a clear signal that WLFI is serious about aligning with regulatory best practices as it moves toward “open participation.”

From Closed Club to Open Ecosystem

WLFI’s decision to unlock its tokens is part of a broader strategic shift: transitioning from a tightly controlled network to a more open, community-driven ecosystem.

That said, making tokens tradable also means stepping into a more volatile, less predictable world. Price swings, speculation, and media scrutiny are all likely to follow — especially given the Trump name attached to the project.

Still, WLFI seems ready for the spotlight. As the platform prepares for this new chapter, the eyes of both crypto traders and political pundits will be watching closely.