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Holders of the World Liberty Financial token, WLFI, have voted overwhelmingly to make these tokens tradable, a decision that could significantly impact their market value and the financial interests of the Trump family.
WLFI Transition From Voting Rights To Tradable Assets
World Liberty Financial, a venture associated with Donald Trump’s family, launched the WLFI tokens last autumn as part of its decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, which also includes a stablecoin called USD1.
Initially, these tokens were not designed for trading; instead, they granted holders voting rights on certain business developments, including changes to the platform’s underlying code.
Early investors were primarily drawn to WLFI due to its association with Trump, banking on the expectation that the tokens would appreciate in value thanks to his backing.
The recent vote to allow trading of the tokens marks a crucial shift, enabling market forces to set their prices. This transition is likely to attract a wider array of investors, potentially generating trading fees for exchanges that list WLFI and fueling speculation about the tokens’ future value.
Although it remains unclear how this will directly benefit the Trump family, the increased trading activity may enhance the overall value of their holdings, which are substantial.
Trump’s Potential Conflicts Of Interest
Critics, including several Democratic lawmakers, have raised concerns regarding the ethical implications of the Trump family’s financial involvement in World Liberty Financial.
Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Maxine Waters have voiced their worries to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), arguing that the family’s financial stake constitutes a significant conflict of interest that could influence regulatory oversight of the cryptocurrency industry.
They pointed out that the WLFI tokens have not been classified as securities by the SEC, which means they are not subject to the same level of regulatory scrutiny as traditional investments like stocks.
The White House has maintained that Trump’s assets are managed by a trust overseen by his children, asserting that there are no conflicts of interest. However, the specifics of this trust arrangement remain undisclosed.
World Liberty Financial Promises More Details
Trump’s company, DT Marks DEFI LLC, was allocated 22.5 billion of the total 100 billion WLFI tokens, with Trump himself holding approximately 15.75 billion tokens as of the end of last year. Reports suggest that the Trump family has generated around $500 million from World Liberty since its inception.
In light of the recent vote, the White House declined to comment to Reuters on how the tradability of WLFI might affect the family’s financial interests. A spokesperson for World Liberty Financial indicated that further details about the trading process would be provided soon.
The proposal to initiate tradability received overwhelming support, with 99.94% of approximately 20,900 votes in favor. Many token holders expressed their motivations for voting, with some citing expectations of price increases and others aligning their investment with support for Trump.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
