Trump-backed WLFI burns $1.43M in tokens after price slump
Decentralized finance project World Liberty Financial (WLFI), linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump, has burned 7.89 million WLFI tokens worth $1.43 million following a $1.06 million buyback funded by DeFi fees.
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the Trump-affiliated crypto treasury company, has completed a WLFI token burn of 7.89 million tokens valued at about $1.43 million. The move came after the project executed a $1.06 million buyback across multiple blockchains. According to onchain data from Lookonchain, the WLFI team collected $1.06 million in fees and liquidity earnings from decentralized finance activities before using those funds to repurchase 6.04 million WLFI on the open market.
The WLFI token burn was carried out on the BNB Smart Chain and Ethereum networks. An additional 3.06 million WLFI tokens—worth roughly $638,000—remain unburned on Solana pending further action. The WLFI token burn is part of a governance-approved strategy designed to strengthen the token’s economics and mitigate ongoing market volatility.
“Using fees from WLFI-managed liquidity pools for buybacks and permanent burns reduces circulating supply and supports token value,” — WLFI development team, in a project statement.
The WLFI token burn follows a difficult month for the project, with the token’s value dropping 33% over the last 30 days. As of Saturday, WLFI trades at $0.2049, according to CoinGecko, marking a slight 6% daily rebound but still sitting 38% below its all-time high of $0.40.
For crypto investors, the WLFI token burn is seen as a stabilizing measure in the face of sharp price swings. The plan, approved earlier this month by 99% of token holders, mandates that fees from WLFI-controlled liquidity pools be used to repurchase tokens and permanently remove them from circulation. Third-party or community-run liquidity pools are excluded from this process.
Onchain analysts have speculated that the WLFI token burn program could permanently remove up to 4 million WLFI daily—nearly 2% of the supply annually—though the exact long-term figures remain uncertain.
“Token burns can reduce selling pressure, but market demand ultimately determines sustainability,” — Crypto market analyst, in commentary on Lookonchain data.
Another key factor shaping the narrative around the WLFI token burn is the Trump family’s substantial holdings in the project. According to reporting by Cointelegraph, entities linked to Donald Trump and his family collectively control around $5 billion worth of WLFI tokens following a scheduled unlock of 24.6 billion tokens earlier this month.
The project’s website lists DT Marks DEFI LLC, along with Trump family members Donald Jr., Eric, and Barron, as initial holders of 22.5 billion WLFI. That unlock temporarily drove WLFI’s price to $0.40 before it quickly retraced to about $0.21.
Market observers note that while the WLFI token burn helps reduce circulating supply, the family’s large stake continues to raise questions about concentration risk and governance influence in the project.
The WLFI token burn highlights how crypto treasury companies are experimenting with deflationary mechanisms to boost token value and attract investors amid volatile conditions. By tying buybacks directly to fees earned from liquidity pools, WLFI has aligned its business model with community-driven governance.
Still, as WLFI navigates price declines and the weight of large token allocations, the sustainability of its burn strategy remains a central question for both supporters and critics. The WLFI token burn will be closely watched by investors, policy makers, and the broader DeFi sector as a test case for supply control in politically affiliated crypto projects.
Moses Edozie is a writer and storyteller with a deep interest in cryptocurrency, blockchain innovation, and Web3 culture. Passionate about DeFi, NFTs, and the societal impact of decentralized systems, he creates clear, engaging narratives that connect complex technologies to everyday life.