The World Liberty Financial token, WLFI, is officially moving toward market trading. A community proposal to unlock the token for public transferability passed with near-unanimous support, receiving 99.94% of the vote.
This result signals a major shift for the project, which, until now, had been restricted to a closed network of token holders.
However, while the announcement marks an important milestone, full trading access is not happening overnight. The process will take place in phases, beginning with a limited release for early investors.
A second vote will be needed before the remaining supply is unlocked. This has raised further questions about when WLFI will reach open participation and how it will affect both the market and the people behind the project.
When Will WLFI Trading Begin?
The vote concluded on July 17, confirming that WLFI tokens purchased in the initial sales rounds would become tradable. This applies to the 20 billion tokens sold at $0.015 in October 2024 and the 5 billion sold at $0.05 in January 2025.
Together, these two rounds raised $550 million. At the time, buyers were promised governance rights but not liquidity. That is now changing.
But while trading has technically been approved, it is only being enabled for a specific group of participants. The team announced that only early investors would be allowed to trade in the first phase.
These tokens will enter circulation gradually. Exchange listings and precise timing details are still pending, and no exact date has been set for public trading.
WLFI’s remaining supply, including the majority of team and treasury holdings, will remain locked. Founders, advisers, and contributors are subject to a separate vesting schedule that has not yet been disclosed. Their allocations are not included in this unlock phase.
A second vote will determine whether the rest of the token supply can be released. Until then, the WLFI market will be shaped primarily by early holders, creating a limited liquidity environment.
This structure was designed to prevent immediate oversupply and reduce volatility, but it also means price discovery will be gradual.
Holders will also be given expanded governance rights, including influence over token emissions, ecosystem funding, and treasury use. These responsibilities could become more important as the protocol moves into broader market engagement.
How Will This Affect Trump and the WLFI Community?
The WLFI project has attracted attention not only for its funding model but also for its direct ties to Donald Trump and his inner circle. Since its launch in September 2024, World Liberty Financial has been closely associated with the former president, who has publicly supported the platform.
According to a financial disclosure filed in June 2025, Trump personally held 15.75 billion WLFI tokens. A company linked to him, DT Marks DEFI LLC, is expected to receive another 22.5 billion.
Altogether, the Trump family is estimated to have earned nearly $390 million from the project so far. Reports place his total crypto-linked holdings at around $620 million.
Trump’s three sons, Donald Jr., Eric, and Barron, are all listed as protocol advisers. They are joined by long-time associate Steve Witkoff and his sons, Zach and Alex, who are also co-founders of the project.
This network of connections has led some observers to question whether WLFI’s launch represents a new form of political finance through digital assets.
Concerns over conflicts of interest have been raised in Congress. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Maxine Waters have called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to examine Trump’s involvement in crypto ventures.
Their focus is not just on WLFI but also on his broader engagement with mining operations and stablecoin initiatives.
In response, the White House has stated that Trump’s assets are held in a trust managed by his children. However, Trump remains the sole beneficiary of the trust, meaning he can still benefit from any gains. The terms of this arrangement have not been made public.
Within the WLFI community, opinions vary. Some holders see their investment as a political statement, while others are more focused on the token’s long-term potential.
The shift to a tradable token may allow the project to attract more market participants, but it also brings new risks. Speculation, media attention, and regulatory pressure are likely to increase as WLFI moves from a closed system to a more open ecosystem.
The team has taken early steps to address transparency. Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs has been hired to monitor transactions and compliance. This could help the project avoid legal complications while signalling a willingness to operate within expected financial norms.
Conclusion
The WLFI token is now on the path to public trading, but not all tokens will be unlocked at once. Early investors will be able to sell and transfer their holdings, but the rest of the supply remains under lock.
The next community vote will determine whether and when the rest of the WLFI ecosystem opens up.
The connection to Donald Trump continues to shape the narrative around WLFI. As trading begins, both supporters and critics will be watching closely. The coming weeks will reveal whether the project can deliver on its goals while maintaining accountability and public trust.