Trump’s Crypto Empire Casts Long Shadow Over Washington

World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token, launched by former U.S. President Donald Trump and his family, surged in market value, adding approximately $4.1 billion to the Trump family’s net worth after becoming tradable on Sept. 2, 2025. The token, which initially traded above $0.30, later settled at $0.20, with a market capitalization of nearly $7 billion, ranking it as the 31st largest cryptocurrency by market cap according to CoinGecko. The token’s debut saw around $1 billion in volume within the first hour of trading, with major exchanges like Binance, OKX, and Bybit listing the asset [1].

The token is part of World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance platform also involved in issuing a stablecoin pegged to a specific asset. Since its launch in 2024, the Trump family has earned an estimated $500 million from the venture, according to Reuters, while ownership of roughly a quarter of the tokens has boosted the family’s paper wealth by $5 billion, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Trump, listed as a “co-founder emeritus” on the company’s website, holds an unspecified amount of WLFI but is restricted from selling his holdings, along with his children [1].

Analysts warn that the token’s meteoric rise could complicate upcoming crypto regulation efforts, particularly the broader market structure legislation that is expected to pass in Congress. Sam Mudie, CEO of crypto investment platform Savea, noted that the token’s value now entwines the president’s financial interests with crypto policy, potentially turning regulatory debates into political dilemmas for lawmakers. The recent Genius Act, signed into law in July, was a narrow bipartisan success focused on stablecoins, but the forthcoming Clarity Act and the Senate’s Responsible Financial Innovation Act tackle broader issues, including market infrastructure and investor protections [2].

Democratic lawmakers have previously criticized Trump’s involvement in crypto ventures as a conflict of interest, citing concerns over the president’s influence on regulatory decisions while holding a significant stake in the industry. Representative Gerry Connolly labeled Trump’s dealings as “open corruption” in May 2025, while the White House has maintained that Trump’s assets are held in a trust managed by his children and that no conflicts exist [2].

Despite the controversy, some industry experts remain cautiously optimistic. Ron Hammond of crypto market maker Wintermute noted that bipartisan support for crypto legislation has grown over time, and key senators from both parties continue to collaborate on regulatory frameworks. Lee Reiners, a financial regulation expert at Duke University, argued that the concerns raised during the Genius Act debate were overcome by sufficient Democratic support, and similar patterns could emerge with future bills [2].

The Trump administration’s aggressive push for crypto-friendly policies marks a stark shift from the previous administration’s more cautious approach. While the president’s WLFI holdings raise ethical and regulatory questions, the broader market continues to evolve, with major exchanges facilitating trading and institutional investors showing increasing interest. The debate over regulation, however, is likely to intensify as the political implications of Trump’s crypto fortune become more pronounced [1][2].

Source:

[1] The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/02/trump-world-liberty-financial-cryptocurrency)

[2] DL News (https://www.dlnews.com/articles/defi/trump-wlfi-token-stash-throws-future-crypto-rules-into-doubt/)