The Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture has exploded onto the market, instantly reshaping their financial empire. The newly launched WLFI token opened to staggering trading volume, surging their wealth to an estimated $5 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. Within an hour of its debut, nearly $1 billion worth of the token changed hands as prices fluctuated wildly. The move marks the Trump family’s most lucrative business shift yet.
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WLFI’s Explosive Debut
WLFI, the Trump family’s flagship cryptocurrency, began public trading on Monday in a rollout comparable to a stock listing. Early trading was intense, with prices ranging between 20 and 30 cents and volume hitting $1 billion within the first hour. At the peak price, the family’s holdings briefly topped $6 billion, cementing WLFI as the most valuable asset in their portfolio.
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Massive Family Stake
The Trump family controls just under a quarter of all WLFI tokens. Founders’ allocations remain locked, restricting immediate sales, but the scale of their stake means they instantly gained billions in paper wealth. Early investors, who purchased WLFI at just 1.5 cents, also saw enormous gains as the market opened.
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Trading Frenzy Follows Launch
Frenetic trading across exchanges, particularly Binance, marked the first hours of WLFI’s debut. On Binance, the token opened near 30 cents before falling closer to 20 cents, though activity remained heavy. By comparison, most new digital tokens see only a fraction of such activity in their launch period.
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World Liberty’s Vision
WLFI was launched by World Liberty, a venture aligned with the Trump brand. Alongside WLFI, the group is also behind USD1, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. While critics have speculated about political ties, the company has insisted its mission is purely financial, focusing on digital assets rather than political engagement.
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Leaders Defend Intentions
Zach Witkoff, CEO of World Liberty and son of envoy Steve Witkoff, addressed speculation in an interview. “It doesn’t get involved in politics,” he said, while still praising Trump, adding: “Clearly President Trump is the greatest president of all time.” His comments highlighted both the brand’s independence and its clear Trump-aligned identity.
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White House Response
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the family’s involvement, dismissing claims of conflicts of interest. She told the Journal: “Neither the president nor his family have ever engaged, or will ever engage, in conflicts of interest.” Her statement aimed to shut down questions of impropriety as WLFI’s value continues to dominate headlines.