A new cryptocurrency tied to Donald Trump’s family business started trading Monday, opening the door for investors to buy and sell the digital tokens for the first time.
The tokens, called World Liberty Financial ($WLFI), were rolled out last year as part of the Trump family’s push into decentralised finance. Alongside $WLFI, the venture also launched a stable coin.
In July, early backers of $WLFI voted to allow the tokens to be traded, a move that could boost their value and, by extension, Trump’s personal stake. For now, investors can cash out up to 20% of their holdings, according to World Liberty.
Several major crypto exchanges including Binance, OKX, and Bybit listed the tokens on Monday. By late in the day, $WLFI was trading at $0.3115, according to CoinGecko.
Since World Liberty’s launch, the Trump family has already made about $500 million from the project, based on company documents, blockchain data, and publicly disclosed deals reviewed by Reuters.
At the start, tokens weren’t designed for trading. Instead, they gave holders the ability to vote on business changes, such as updates to the project’s code. But many investors said the main draw was Trump’s name, betting that his involvement alone would drive the price higher.
Now that the tokens are tradable, their market price will be set by buyers and sellers. That shift not only sparks speculation but also generates trading fees for exchanges and attracts new investors.
Still, the venture has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and ethics watchdogs, who argue that Trump’s crypto businesses present conflicts of interest. They point to his influence over federal rules that shape the digital asset industry.
The White House has pushed back, saying Trump’s assets are held in a trust managed by his children and insisting there are no conflicts.
