Ethereum News Today: Trump-Linked WLFI Token Launches on Ethereum with $2.26B Funding and 20% Genesis Unlock

World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token officially launched on the Ethereum mainnet on September 1, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the DeFi platform, which is associated with Donald Trump Jr. and other members of the Trump family. The initial unlock allowed 20% of the total token supply to be claimed by early investors who participated in private funding rounds priced at $0.015 and $0.05 per token. The remaining 80% of the tokens will be released through a community governance vote, a structure intended to decentralize control and align incentives with token holders.

The WLFI token has a total supply of 100 billion, with World Liberty Financial having raised at least $590 million across eight funding rounds to date. Pre-market trading data from over-the-counter venues suggests a fully diluted valuation of approximately $123 billion, highlighting the scale of investor participation. The Trump family’s involvement has drawn heightened attention from both the market and regulatory bodies, with some observers noting that the project’s political ties could lead to increased scrutiny compared to typical DeFi launches.

The token’s unlock phase was accompanied by a surge in price, followed by a sharp decline, a pattern observed in several high-profile token launches. Some traders noted that this volatility could reflect broader market sentiment toward DeFi projects with strong political affiliations. Trump Jr. has publicly endorsed the project, emphasizing his belief that “crypto is going to be the future of finance,” signaling the family’s continued interest in the digital asset space.

From a technical standpoint, the platform has undergone a security audit by Cyfrin to support its Lockbox system, which users are encouraged to activate before trading. The project also announced plans to integrate Aave V3 on the Ethereum mainnet, with AaveDAO receiving a 20% allocation of WLFI’s protocol shares. This integration is seen as a strategic move to expand the platform’s DeFi ecosystem and increase liquidity for the token.

The launch has generated substantial market speculation, particularly due to the aggressive fundraising and tokenomics structure. Over $2.26 billion in funding has been raised ahead of the launch, with public sale rounds unlocking 20% of tokens at the genesis event. While the initial momentum has been strong, the token’s price volatility underscores the risks inherent in DeFi projects with high-profile affiliations. Analysts have pointed out that such projects often experience regulatory uncertainty and market fluctuations, especially when linked to well-known political figures.

The broader implications for the DeFi space remain to be seen, but the WLFI launch has already sparked discussions about the intersection of finance and politics in the crypto industry. As the token moves toward potential listings on major exchanges, market participants will be closely watching for any regulatory developments and price movements that could shape the future of the project [1][2][3][5][6][8][9].

Source: [1] Ethereum News Today – Trump-Linked WLFI Token Debuts on Ethereum Amid DeFi...(https://www.ainvest.com/news/ethereum-news-today-trump-linked-wlfi-token-debuts-ethereum-defi-surge-regulatory-shifts-2508/)

[2] Trump-Linked DeFi Platform Launches WLFI on Ethereum...(https://www.ainvest.com/news/ethereum-news-today-trump-linked-defi-platform-launches-wlfi-ethereum-2-26b-presale-2508/)

[3] Trump's World Liberty Financial Sets Sept. 1 Launch for...(https://thedefiant.io/news/blockchains/trumps-world-liberty-financial-sets-sept-1-launch-wlfi-token-unlock-60471ca6)

[5] $WLFI TGE on Sep 1: $2.26B Funding, ALT5 Sigma $1.5B...(https://blockchain.news/flashnews/wlfi-tge-on-sep-1-2-26b-funding-alt5-sigma-1-5b-equity-deal-20-public-sale-unlock)

[6] WLFI Coin's Rapid Plunge Surprises Traders...(https://en.coin-turk.com/wlfi-coins-rapid-plunge-surprises-traders/)

[8] Blockchain Magazine...(https://blockchainmagazine.net/)

[9] Crypto Newsletter, 24/7 Real-Time Market Updates, Global...(https://www.coinglass.com/newsflash)