In a significant turn of events for investors in the WLFI token, connected to the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial crypto project, fans of former President Donald Trump have collectively purchased an astounding $550 million in tokens. Initially priced between $0.015 and $0.05 during their presale phase from October 2024 to January 2025, WLFI tokens soared to an all-time high of $0.33 when trading commenced in September 2025, offering investors the illusion of skyrocketing returns.
However, this enthusiasm has been tempered by a crucial limitation: the creators of World Liberty Financial, including Trump and his sons Eric, Donald Jr., and Barron, have retained exclusive control over the trading rights of the majority of these tokens. Only 20% of the total token supply has been released for trading, with holders awaiting a promised vote from the project’s founders on the timeline for additional sales. Months have stretched on without any indication of such a vote taking place, leading to frustration among investors who are now watching the value of their holdings wane. Since its peak, WLFI has plummeted by almost 54%—a significant decline that has spurred numerous token holders to voice their grievances on the World Liberty Financial forum.
“I want access to my investments,” one disgruntled token holder lamented. “We have become hostages.” Another remarked, “Nearly 80% of WLFI presale tokens are still locked after almost two years. We held through volatility and silence because we believed. But at what point does patience turn into neglect?”
Despite the mounting pressure from token holders, the project’s founders seem unfazed. They’ve recently moved forward with a plan to distribute more WLFI tokens as incentives to attract users to the protocol, a decision that many fear could further exacerbate the downward pressure on the token’s value. A World Liberty Financial spokesperson has asserted that the team is in regular communication with its global community, but tangible actions have yet to materialize.
The situation is a reflection of widespread issues in the unregulated crypto market, where dubious projects often capitalize on speculative interest. Many investors, captivated by the prospect of high returns, have become victims in schemes that promise substantial profits but fail to deliver. Chase Herro, one of the project’s co-founders and a controversial figure known for his dubious online marketing tactics, exemplifies this trend. In a now-deleted YouTube video, he claimed, “You can literally sell shit in a can… if the story’s right, because people will buy it.”
While some WLFI investors remain hopeful for the project’s future, citing the potential for a significant wealth transfer once the tokens are available for trading, many are increasingly skeptical. The project’s charter leaves token holders with little power and no guaranteed returns or distributions.
Compounding investor concerns is the predicament of Justin Sun, founder of Tron, who had invested $75 million in WLFI. Following his attempt to transfer part of his holdings to a different wallet, World Liberty’s leaders froze those tokens, effectively sidelining a significant stake in the project. Despite ongoing volatility, Sun expressed intentions to acquire more WLFI, yet his investments remain inaccessible.
As scrutiny surrounding Donald Trump’s involvement in the crypto space intensifies, this narrative complicates ongoing legislative efforts regarding a regulatory framework for digital currencies. Opposition politicians have leveraged Trump’s crypto dealings as a point of contention in discussions about the Clarity Act, which aims to clarify regulations for the crypto industry.
Amid this turbulence, World Liberty Financial has scheduled an exclusive in-person forum at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club, for February 18, signaling continued engagement with select industry figures. Whether this event will provide any relief or representation for WLFI token holders remains uncertain, leaving many to ponder the future viability of their investments in a project that initially promised much but now seems mired in chaos.
