• Trump and associates reportedly secure $390M from World Liberty Token sales.
  • The token sale has sparked both enthusiasm and regulatory scrutiny.
  • The initiative reflects the growing intersection of politics and crypto.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his associates have reportedly pocketed a staggering $390 million following the sale of World Liberty Tokens, a cryptocurrency initiative associated with Trump’s brand.

This development has fuelled both investor excitement and regulatory concerns as the crypto market continues to evolve.

The DeFi project announced on Monday that it had completed a $550 million sale of WLFI, its governance token.

Trump is entitled to a major share of revenues the project reaps, despite not being an active member of the project as per the company's own accounting.

According to World Liberty’s gold paper, Trump and his business partners will receive 75% of the project's net revenues, including proceeds from WLFI token sales, after deducting operating costs.

The initiative positions itself as a digital asset that champions financial freedom, a theme that resonates strongly with Trump’s political base.

Trump and his partners in DT Marks DEFI LLC then get the remaining amount—a full $390 million—as payment for Trump promoting the project “from time to time” and allowing it to use his name and likeness, according to the project’s gold paper.

The massive payout to Trump and his associates has triggered scrutiny from regulators.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other financial watchdogs are assessing the project to determine whether it complies with federal securities laws.

According to SEC filings, DT Marks DEFI is based in Jupiter, Florida, at the address of the Trump Organization’s executive offices.

When World Liberty launched token sales in October, the project initially struggled to attract investors.

By the eve of the 2024 election, it had sold less than $15 million worth of WLFI tokens—far short of its $300 million target, according to Dune.

However, interest surged after Trump returned to the White House.

Tron blockchain founder Justin Sun revealed he had purchased tens of millions of dollars worth of WLFI and soon after joined the project as an advisor.

Sun’s involvement in the project comes as he faces his own legal troubles. In late February, the SEC requested a judge to pause its long-running fraud lawsuit against him to explore a potential resolution.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah