US President Donald Trump earned $57.35 million in 2024 from selling tokens linked to his DeFi project, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), according to his latest financial disclosure filed with the US Office of Government Ethics on June 13.
The filing also reveals Trump still holds 15.75 billion WLFI governance tokens—valued between $1,001 and $15,000—that could give him voting power in the project’s decision-making process. Meanwhile, the WLFI earnings rank among Trump’s largest single sources of income in 2024, alongside stakes in traditional assets like Blackstone, Microsoft, Visa, and Invesco.
Trump’s Role: Advocate, Not Executive
The World Liberty “gold paper” describes Donald Trump as its “chief crypto advocate,” alongside his three sons. It states explicitly that neither he nor his family holds a founder, owner, or executive role in the company. Their support appears largely symbolic and promotional. Still, Trump’s financial stake and governance tokens suggest deeper involvement. The arrangement allows Donald Trump to promote crypto ideals while distancing himself from any managerial responsibilities, especially as digital assets become more politically charged.
For instance, Reuters reported in March that World Liberty Financial was structured so that the Trump family retained about 60% of voting control and 75% of revenue, creating a scenario where they benefit financially while formally keeping day-to-day distance, prompting ethics concerns. NPR highlighted how the Trump family pushed stablecoin legislation, then quietly launched their stablecoin ($USD1), which many saw as a way to reap financial rewards from crypto policy they helped shape, again underscoring the tension between legal permissibility and political sensitivity.
Democrats Accuse Donald Trump of Crypto Corruption
Trump’s connection to a crypto project while serving in public office (or running for it) has also raised ethics flags among Democratic senators, who are concerned about potential conflicts of interest. The crypto policy is currently under federal review, prompting critics to argue that a president profiting from token sales could shape legislation to favor personal holdings or affiliated ventures.
These concerns may intensify if Trump gains more political power. The overlap between financial interest and public policy is under the microscope, especially given the explosive growth of blockchain ventures in 2024 and beyond. World Liberty Financial raised over $550 million in March 2025 by selling 25% of its WLFI token supply. In June, it airdropped a USD-backed stablecoin, USD1, to holders, mirroring Trump’s public support for dollar-linked stablecoins amid fast-moving legislation in Congress.