Key Takeaways
- Steep Decline: The WLFI governance token from the Trump family's World Liberty Financial project has fallen over 40% since public trading began, with the overall portfolio value dropping from a peak of over $17 billion to under $8 billion.
- Aggressive Expansion: Despite the downturn, the project executed major token sales, launched a stablecoin (USD1), formed key partnerships (e.g., with PancakeSwap and ALT5 Sigma), and made significant cryptocurrency acquisitions.
- Persistent Controversy: The venture has faced ongoing scrutiny and calls for regulatory investigations from figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren over alleged conflicts of interest and dealings with sanctioned entities.
- Future Plans: World Liberty Financial is proceeding with plans to launch a suite of real-world asset (RWA) products starting in January 2026.
A Rocky Year for a High-Profile Crypto Venture
World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency portfolio project spearheaded by the Trump family, is closing out 2025 on a sour note. Its flagship World Liberty Financial (WLFI) governance token has suffered a dramatic decline, losing over 40% of its value since it began public trading, encapsulating a year of ambitious growth shadowed by controversy and market volatility.
From Launch to Liquidation: A Timeline of Activity
Announced by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in September 2024, World Liberty Financial quickly moved to establish its presence. The project, led by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, initiated its first WLFI token sale in October 2024, raising approximately $300 million. A subsequent sale in early 2025 brought in another $250 million.
The venture's strategy involved aggressive diversification:
- Stablecoin Launch: In March 2025, it issued its own stablecoin, USD1.
- Strategic Partnerships: By June, it secured a promotional deal with Binance-owned decentralized exchange PancakeSwap.
- Major Treasury Deal: An August agreement with ALT5 Sigma Corporation created a $1.5 billion crypto treasury, exchanging company shares for WLFI tokens.
- Bull Market Acquisitions: During the 2025 crypto rally, the fund acquired millions in assets like Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), Ether (ETH), and Mantle (MNT).
However, these gains were not sustained. Public tracking data shows the portfolio's value plummeted from a September peak of over $17 billion to just under $8 billion by December 11—a staggering 47% decrease.
“Neither the president nor his family have ever engaged or will ever engage in conflicts of interest. The administration is fulfilling the president’s promise to make the United States the crypto capital of the world by driving innovation and economic opportunity for all Americans,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, dismissing allegations of misconduct.
Scrutiny and Allegations of Conflict
The project's close ties to the sitting president have drawn intense scrutiny, breaking from historical norms where commanders-in-chief distanced themselves from personal business. Critics argue the venture represents a profound conflict of interest.
Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Maxine Waters have been vocal, urging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate. Concerns escalated in November following a report by Accountable.US alleging World Liberty Financial sold tokens to sanctioned individuals linked to Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
In response, a project spokesperson emphasized its compliance measures: World Liberty itself said that it ran Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer checks on potential buyers “and turned down millions of dollars from potential purchasers who failed the tests.”
Looking Beyond WLFI: The Broader Trump Crypto Empire
World Liberty Financial is not the family's only foray into digital assets. Their holdings extend to other ventures:
- Truth.Fi: Operated by Trump Media and Technology Group, this fintech brand acquired over $100 million in Cronos (CRO) tokens in a deal with Crypto.com.
- American Bitcoin: A crypto mining venture founded and backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., reportedly holding nearly 4,800 BTC as of early December.
Steaming Ahead Despite Headwinds
Undeterred by the portfolio's declining valuation and political headwinds, World Liberty Financial is pushing forward. Co-founder Zach Witkoff announced plans to launch a new suite of real-world asset (RWA) products starting in January 2026, signaling continued commitment to blockchain innovation and asset tokenization despite a challenging year.
