Unlike traditional equity, where investors gain ownership or revenue rights, WLFI’s governance token is the primary product being sold, with 75% of the proceeds from token sales going to the Trump family’s DT Marks DEFI LLC. This structure resembles a licensing deal, where the Trump brand is leveraged to market the token, rather than offering financial returns or asset claims to holders.
WLFI: The token is the product refers to the business model of World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform backed by the Trump family.
The token, initially non-transferable and used solely for governance (voting on protocol decisions), became tradable on September 1, 2025, after a community vote. Critics argue this setup prioritizes brand monetization over decentralized utility, with the token’s value tied heavily to the Trump family’s political influence and speculative hype rather than intrinsic financial benefits.
The project raised $550 million through token sales, but its governance model and regulatory risks raise concerns about centralization and potential manipulation. The Trump family, through their entity DT Marks DEFI LLC, holds approximately 22.5 billion $WLFI tokens out of a total supply of 100 billion.
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When trading began on September 1, 2025, the token price surged to around $0.40 before settling at approximately $0.22-$0.23 per token. This values their holdings at roughly $5-6 billion on paper, significantly boosting their wealth.
This valuation surpasses the worth of the Trump Organization’s traditional real estate assets, making cryptocurrency the family’s largest source of wealth. WLFI’s terms stipulate that 75% of net revenue from token sales goes to DT Marks DEFI LLC, controlled by the Trump family.
With $550 million raised through token sales, the family has likely earned around $412.5 million in direct revenue, assuming minimal deductions. An additional deal with ALT5 Sigma Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed company, raised $1.5 billion, with $750 million used to purchase $WLFI tokens, further channeling funds to the Trump family through the 75% revenue split.
This deal alone could have netted them approximately $562.5 million. The Trump family’s deep involvement in WLFI, coupled with Donald Trump’s role as president and his pro-crypto regulatory stance, raises significant ethical concerns.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and ethics experts, argue that the venture creates opportunities for politically motivated investors to gain favor with the administration by purchasing tokens or investing in related entities like ALT5 Sigma.
For example, Justin Sun, a prominent crypto entrepreneur, invested $75 million in $WLFI, raising questions about potential influence, especially after the Trump administration dropped a securities fraud lawsuit against him. The structure, where the Trump family benefits directly from token sales while Trump shapes crypto regulations, is seen as an unprecedented conflict of interest.
The $WLFI token’s value is highly volatile, as evidenced by its drop from $0.40 to $0.22-$0.23 on its trading debut. The Trump family’s $5-6 billion stake is theoretical until their tokens are unlocked for sale, which is subject to a yet-to-be-determined vesting schedule.
The token’s value is heavily tied to the Trump brand and political influence rather than intrinsic utility, as WLFI has yet to launch a fully functional DeFi platform. This speculative nature increases financial risk for investors and could lead to price instability if market sentiment shifts.
The ALT5 Sigma deal, where a publicly traded company was used to buy $WLFI tokens, has been criticized as a mechanism to artificially inflate the token’s market capitalization. By creating a “treasury” to purchase $WLFI, the Trump family could indirectly prop up token prices, benefiting their holdings while drawing in more investors.
The Trump family’s 22.5 billion $WLFI tokens represent 22.5% of the total supply. At $0.23 per token, this stake is worth approximately $5.175 billion. Even at the initial sale price of $0.015-$0.05, early investors saw significant paper gains when trading began, amplifying the perceived value of the Trump family’s holdings.
The 75% revenue split from token sales has been a primary wealth driver. With $550 million raised directly and an additional $750 million through ALT5 Sigma, the family has potentially earned over $975 million in cash revenue. This structure ensures substantial income regardless of the token’s market performance.
Beyond $WLFI, the Trump family’s wealth is augmented by other crypto ventures, including the $TRUMP memecoin (valued at $7.7 billion) and a Bitcoin mining operation. These ventures collectively position cryptocurrency as the family’s dominant wealth source, eclipsing their real estate portfolio.
The Trump family has amassed a fortune through $WLFI token sales via direct revenue, substantial token holdings, and strategic deals like ALT5 Sigma. However, the venture’s ethical, regulatory, and financial risks highlight the precarious nature of this wealth, which remains vulnerable to market volatility and political backlash.