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The Trump Crypto empire took a massive leap forward this week, with the Trump family reportedly notching up to $5 billion in trading paper wealth after their flagship cryptocurrency, World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token, began trading on open markets.

The launch of WLFI on Monday was likened to an initial public offering, allowing holders to buy and sell the token on exchanges such as Binance. Until now, WLFI was available only to private buyers who had no way to exchange their tokens.

A “Crypto IPO” Moment

With a market capitalization of $7 billion, WLFI is already the 31st largest token  per CoinGecko.

In a fiery debut, trading volume surged to $1 billion within the first hour, according to CoinMarketCap. WLFI opened around $0.30 before slipping toward $0.20. Even at that lower price, the Trump family’s stake is estimated at over $6 billion, dwarfing the value of their traditional real estate portfolio.

“This isn’t some meme coin,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted, underscoring the venture’s ambition to position WLFI as more than just another speculative digital asset.

Trump’s Crypto Strategy

President Trump, who last year declared that World Liberty would help “make America great again, this time with crypto,” holds nearly a quarter of all WLFI tokens. His three sons are co-founders, while he is listed as “Co-Founder Emeritus.”

World Liberty raised $750 million over the summer in an unusual deal that could net the family about $500 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Trumps also control large stakes in other digital ventures, including the $Trump memecoin and holdings through Trump Media, parent company of Truth Social.

Supporters vs. Critics

Industry figures like Tad Tobar of Lorenzo Protocol are bullish:

“Its staying power is real because it’s designed to be the governance token of this new open economy.”

But critics warn of conflicts of interest. World Liberty’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, USD1, is propped up by Binance, whose convicted founder is reportedly seeking a presidential pardon.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back:

“Neither the president nor his family have ever engaged, or will ever engage, in conflicts of interest.”

World Liberty CEO Zach Witkoff, son of Trump ally Steve Witkoff, insists:

“It is strictly a private business and doesn’t get involved in politics, though clearly President Trump is the greatest president of all time.”

What’s Next for WLFI?

World Liberty says WLFI’s long-term value will be tied to its role as a governance token in its ecosystem. The company also plans to expand through mobile apps and financial tools, aiming to become a lasting player in the crypto economy.