Trump Fans Invest Big in WLFI Tokens But Face Trading Challenges

• Supporters of Trump bought $550 million worth of WLFI tokens.
• Many have yet to trade the majority of their holdings.
• The project’s founders control who can sell and when.

When fans of Trump acquired $550 million in WLFI, a token linked to the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial crypto initiative, they likely believed they were making a smart investment.

The tokens, bought between October 2024 and January 2025 at prices ranging from $0.015 to $0.05, peaked at $0.33 when trading began last September, potentially turning small investments into significant gains—at least theoretically.

However, there was a catch.

The founders of World Liberty Financial—which includes Donald Trump and his sons Eric, Donald Jr., and Barron—reserved the exclusive right to determine who can sell their tokens and when that might happen.

To date, only 20% of the tokens have been released, with promises to eventually let token holders vote on the release of the remainder.

But, months have passed, and that vote hasn’t occurred.

Now, numerous token holders are expressing frustration on the World Liberty Financial forum, urging the creators to allow them to cash out as they witness the value of WLFI dwindling.

The token has dropped significantly, losing 54% from its all-time high.

“Nearly 80% of the WLFI presale tokens are still locked up almost two years later,” one frustrated token holder remarked. “We’ve been patient, but how long should we wait for something to happen?”

Another holder added, “These are my investments, and I want access. We’ve become hostages.”

Despite their pleas, there has been no response from the project’s creators.

In addition, World Liberty’s founders are moving ahead with plans to distribute WLFI tokens to attract more users, which may further impact the token’s value.

A representative for World Liberty Financial stated that the project team maintains regular communication with the global community.

Risky Business

The WLFI situation echoes challenges faced by many other crypto initiatives. The industry remains largely unregulated, often attracting dubious players who promise substantial returns, only to leave investors hanging.

Many risk-tolerant crypto investors dive into projects without completely understanding the implications.

The co-founders of World Liberty Financial, it seems, are savvy to the dynamics. For instance, Chase Herro, a former “Get Rich Quick” class instructor, once described himself as an “internet trash bag.” In a now-deleted video, he suggested that with the right narrative, anything—no matter how absurd—could be sold for a fortune.

When Herro launched World Liberty Financial in 2024 alongside prominent figures associated with Trump, they made no guarantees to investors. The documentation provided mostly served as a marketing tool that lacked clarity on project governance.

Unlike other protocols that empower token holders, control over the World Liberty Financial protocol remains with its co-founders. This could be confusing for investors accustomed to governance tokens that grant voting rights.

As a result, though token holders can propose changes, the co-founders ultimately decide whether those ideas move forward.

Moreover, WLFI tokens don’t offer rights to returns, dividends, or any distributions, leaving many buyers with scant options if they’re dissatisfied.

Even notable backers like Tron founder Justin Sun seem caught off guard. After acquiring $75 million worth of WLFI during its sale, he faced setbacks when part of his tokens were frozen after he attempted to move them to another wallet. His tokens have since lost significant value.

Financial Accessibility?

Not all WLFI holders feel regret; some remain optimistic. “Most don’t grasp the potential WLFI holds,” said one token holder. “This temporary block could lead to a massive wealth shift, although that hasn’t happened yet.”

Yet, even loyal supporters share concerns that progress is lagging for the protocol, which is estimated to be worth over $4 billion. The promise of financial democratization feels distant, as the initiatives launched seem to benefit mostly the founders while token holders remain sidelined.

The most profitable offering so far has been the USD1 stablecoin, which competes with similar assets in the market. There are over $5 billion of these tokens in circulation, making it a significant player.

It’s unclear just how profitable each USD1 token is for World Liberty, but comparably lucrative ventures within the industry suggest that it could yield substantial returns.

According to World Liberty’s documentation, all profits will go to the Trump and Witkoff families, with only a small amount set aside for operational costs.

Growing Concerns

Meanwhile, scrutiny over President Trump’s involvement in cryptocurrency is increasing. His political opponents view this as an obstacle in negotiations concerning cryptocurrency legislation that aims to provide structure and support for the industry.

Democrats express reluctance to back the bill, citing concerns that it would allow Trump to profit further from cryptocurrencies.

“The White House is complicating matters,” noted New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, the chief Democratic negotiator for the bill. “Conversing with Republican colleagues, there’s shared concern about Trump’s involvement, which seems absurd.”

This dynamic isn’t helping WLFI token holders, currently entangled in the ongoing debate.

At the same time, World Liberty has scheduled an in-person forum for the project on February 18th at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The invitation-only event, as described by Donald Trump Jr., is meant to gather leading minds in finance and technology.

It remains uncertain whether any representatives of WLFI token holders will be included in those discussions.

Update for January 30th: Added comments from a World Liberty Financial spokesperson.