World Liberty Financial (WLFI) derivatives surged dramatically as traders anticipate the launch of the Trump-linked project’s first token release on Monday, September 1. Market activity exploded in the hours leading up to the event, with 24-hour trading volume for WLFI derivatives jumping over 530% to $3.95 billion, while open interest climbed more than 60% to $931.9 million, according to Coinglass.
The upcoming release will unlock 20% of tokens purchased in the earliest rounds, priced between $0.015 and $0.05, through a mechanism called the Lockbox. These unlocked tokens account for roughly 5% of the total supply, giving early backers in the lowest investment round potential gains exceeding twenty times their initial investment.
Trading Begins with Restrictions
WLFI, issued as a governance token, allows holders to vote on protocol upgrades. Official trading starts on September 1, though early investors can only sell one-fifth of their allocated tokens. Pre-market trading suggests a price of around $0.42, implying a fully diluted valuation of nearly $40 billion. At this level, WLFI could rank among the top 45 digital assets, with some investors hopeful it might even break into the top 20, potentially attracting additional exchange listings.
Trump Connection Drives Attention
Despite being barely a year old, World Liberty Financial has drawn significant attention due to its links to the Trump family. Former President Trump promoted the project on social media prior to taking office, while developer Steven Witkoff is listed as co-founder. Over the past year, the family has expanded its presence in crypto, branching into stablecoins, Bitcoin mining, and digital asset funds, positioning WLFI as a bridge between traditional finance and the emerging open economy.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has enacted legislation governing stablecoins and installed regulators viewed as more crypto-friendly, while his sons have extended the family’s footprint further into digital assets.
Founders’ Tokens Remain Locked
The family’s stake is substantial. DT Marks DEFI LLC, linked to Trump and relatives, reportedly owns 38% of WLF Holdco, controlling World Liberty’s revenue and holds 22.5 billion WLFI tokens, already collecting fees equal to 75% of token sale proceeds.
“Founders’ tokens remain locked until WLFI holders vote on a release schedule,”
Retail investors now face a critical choice: sell into the rally immediately or hold for potential long-term gains as WLFI debuts across major exchanges.
