DWF Labs Commits $25M to Trump-Linked DeFi Venture, Sets Up Shop in NYC

DWF Labs is diving deeper into the U.S. crypto scene with a bold $25 million investment in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized finance project backed by former President Donald Trump and his sons. The move is part of the Dubai-based firm’s broader strategy to plant roots in the United States, starting with a new office in New York City.

Announced on April 16, the deal saw DWF Labs acquiring WLFI tokens via a private transaction. This stake will allow DWF Labs to take part in shaping the WLFI ecosystem through on-chain governance, according to the company.

WLFI debuted on September 16, 2024, with a mission to modernize finance by supporting DeFi adoption and promoting stablecoins tied to the U.S. dollar. Trump himself endorsed the project during the launch, stating the family's commitment to crypto innovation and moving beyond “slow and outdated big banks.”

DWF’s partnership doesn’t stop at token investment. The firm is also stepping in to provide liquidity for WLFI’s native stablecoin, USD1. Launched on March 24 across Ethereum and BNB Chain, USD1 is not yet tradable but represents a key piece of the project’s financial infrastructure.

Known for supplying liquidity across more than 60 global exchanges, DWF Labs specializes in ensuring smooth and efficient trading by placing buy and sell orders for digital assets. With the establishment of a U.S. office, the firm aims to bolster its ties with institutional players—banks, asset managers, and fintechs—while also engaging more closely with American regulators.

WLFI has already seen strong investor interest since launch, securing over $600 million in funding. The project’s first token sale raised $300 million through the distribution of 20 billion WLFI tokens. Another 5 billion tokens sold for $0.05 apiece brought in an additional $250 million in March. Notably, on November 25, Tron founder Justin Sun purchased 2 billion WLFI tokens for $30 million.

Several high-profile players have also joined the WLFI momentum. Investment platform Web3Port has committed $10 million to the project, and Oddiyana Ventures announced a strategic investment, though the exact amount remains undisclosed.

As DWF Labs strengthens its position in the U.S. and WLFI continues to gain traction, this partnership could signal a major shift in the evolving relationship between crypto markets and traditional finance.