Who owns World Liberty Financial, the company that links Pakistan with Trump family
(WLF) is a cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi) firm founded in 2024, with significant ownership and operational ties to the Trump family. The company has garnered attention for its connections to
U.S. President Donald Trump
and its recent partnership with
Pakistan
.
Ownership Structure
According to official information from WLF, the company is primarily owned by DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity affiliated with
Donald Trump
and some of his family members.
DT Marks DEFI LLC
holds approximately 60% of the equity interests in WLF Holdco LLC, the holding company that fully owns World Liberty Financial, Inc. WLF Inc. is a Delaware-based corporation responsible for developing the WLF blockchain protocol and operating its governance platform.
Despite the close ties through ownership, none of Donald Trump, his immediate family members, or executives associated with the Trump Organization hold direct management or operational roles at World Liberty Financial or WLF Holdco LLC, with one notable exception — Eric Trump serves as a manager on the board of WLF Holdco LLC. This limited managerial involvement highlights that day-to-day operations and strategic decisions may be carried out by professionals outside the Trump family.
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DT Marks DEFI LLC and certain Trump family members also hold a significant stake in the company's native digital currency, $WLFI tokens. Reports indicate that they collectively own 22.5 billion tokens. Under a service agreement, DT Marks DEFI LLC is entitled to receive a large share of proceeds from the sale of these tokens, specifically 75% after deducting certain reserves and expenses.
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Controversies and Foreign Investments
WLF has faced scrutiny over its foreign investments and potential conflicts of interest. Chinese billionaire Justin Sun invested $30 million into WLF shortly after Trump's 2025 inauguration, and a subsequent SEC investigation into Sun was dropped. Additionally, a firm associated with the Abu Dhabi government invested $2 billion into WLF in 2025.
The company's stablecoin, USD1, launched in March 2025, has been used in significant international transactions, including a $2 billion investment in the crypto exchange Binance by Abu Dhabi's MGX. This deal raised concerns among ethics experts about potential conflicts of interest.
Partnership with Pakistan
World Liberty Financial recently signed a landmark deal with the Pakistan Crypto Council, a government-affiliated body aiming to develop the country's digital financial infrastructure. The deal outlines cooperation on blockchain innovation, stablecoin adoption, decentralized finance integration, and regulatory sandbox development.
The partnership includes advisory roles from global crypto leaders such as Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, indicating the ambition to position Pakistan as a significant hub in South Asia's crypto economy.
This deal is seen as part of a broader effort by Pakistan to accelerate its presence in the global digital finance arena. However, it also casts a spotlight on the Trump-linked WLF, bringing scrutiny regarding geopolitical and business interests intersecting in the emerging crypto space.
Also Read:
Pakistan strikes deal with Trump family-backed crypto venture
Ethical Concerns
WLF's operations have been criticized for blurring the lines between private enterprise and government policy. The New York Times described the company's activities as "eviscerating the boundary between private enterprise and government policy in a manner without precedent in modern American history." Critics argue that WLF's foreign investments and the Trump family's involvement raise questions about potential conflicts of interest and the influence of private business on public policy.
(
Disclaimer
: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
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