Trump family diminishes ownership in World Liberty Financial to 40 percent
World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform founded by former President Trump and his sons, is at the centre of a complex and closely watched story shaping the future of digital assets and regulation. The intersection of politics, crypto, and finance is under a microscope due to the Trump family's involvement.
The Trump family's involvement with World Liberty Financial and its USD1 stablecoin is under increasing scrutiny, with Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, voicing concerns over potential financial ties to the cryptocurrency industry. Senator Warren has cautioned that if the proposed GENIUS Act passes, the Trump family could profit "hundreds of millions of dollars" from their USD1 stablecoin venture.
The U.S. Senate recently approved the GENIUS Act, which may potentially boost larger sales of World Liberty tokens due to stablecoin-friendly legal frameworks. President Trump has urged the House to expedite the vote on the GENIUS Act, stating, "get it to my desk ASAP" on his social media platform Truth Social.
DT Marks DEFI LLC, the Trump family-linked entity, reduced its ownership stake in World Liberty Financial from 60% to 40%. However, DT Marks DEFI LLC still holds a significant number of WLFI tokens, with a personal holding of 15.75 billion WLFI tokens out of 100 billion total as of late 2024. The WLFI tokens were recently approved for public trading, allowing broader market participation and price discovery, which could substantially increase the Trump family’s crypto-linked income.
DT Marks DEFI LLC and the Trump family control key WLFI platform revenues. Through WLF Holdco LLC, created in early 2025, they hold at least 60% of WLFI’s operating profits and receive around 75% of net revenues from token sales, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. The platform’s $550 million raised from token sales means the family’s share could be roughly $400 million.
The recent unlocking of WLFI token trading means that the Trump family’s holdings are now more liquid and exposed to market forces, potentially increasing their personal net worth, estimated at over $1 billion in crypto assets including WLFI tokens and other related crypto ventures. The increased tradability also raises scrutiny and political concerns, especially from Democratic lawmakers, given the platform’s close ties to the Trump family and the involvement of Trump’s sons and associates in governance roles.
In the weeks before President Trump's January inauguration, the Trump family sold over $200 million worth of World Liberty tokens. DT Marks DEFI LLC held a 75% stake in World Liberty Financial as of late December 2024, according to a financial disclosure.
The approval of the GENIUS Act has implications for World Liberty Financial's reach and legitimacy, but it also fuels debate about transparency, centralized family control in a decentralized finance system, and the political implications of a former president’s family deeply embedded in crypto finance. Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about conflicts of interest and regulatory risks stemming from this intersection of politics and decentralized finance.
In summary, DT Marks DEFI LLC’s reduced yet substantial WLFI stake, combined with WLFI token trading approval under the GENIUS Act, enhances the Trump family’s financial footprint in decentralized finance but intensifies regulatory and political scrutiny due to centralized control and potential conflicts of interest.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic lawmaker, has voiced concerns that if the GENIUS Act passes,ordering the USD1 stablecoin venture by World Liberty Financial, a platform with ties to the Trump family, could profit "hundreds of millions of dollars" for the Trump family.
- The approval of the GENIUS Act could potentially boost the sales of World Liberty tokens, but it also fuels debate about transparency, centralized family control in a decentralized finance system, and the political implications of a former president’s family deeply embedded in crypto finance.
- The Trump family's involvement with World Liberty Financial extends to the platform's $550 million raised from token sales, with DT Marks DEFI LLC and the Trump family controlling at least 60% of WLFI's operating profits and receiving around 75% of net revenues from token sales.
