In the high-stakes world of cryptocurrency, attention is everything. Blockchain founders will go to extraordinary lengths to get their token noticed, from celebrity endorsements to guerrilla marketing stunts. But a new kingmaker has emerged who can send a project’s value soaring with a single investment: President Donald J. Trump.
The Unlikely Crypto Influencer
Trump, once a vocal crypto skeptic, now holds the blockchain industry in thrall. Through his venture World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the sitting President of the United States has become the market-moving investor that every new token dreams of winning over. Suddenly, crypto isn’t just a niche concern – it’s a matter of national attention.
How did this happen? The masterstroke was WLFI itself, which Trump announced in the heated final days of his reelection campaign. By restricting the sale of its $WLFI governance token, World Liberty struggled to raise funds at first. But then a strategy emerged: If you can tie your token to a purchase by the Trump family’s crypto arm, you have an instant publicity coup on your hands.
The World Liberty Financial Dealmaking Process
- Step 1 – Buy WLFI: Project invests at least $10M into Trump’s token
- Step 2 – WLFI Reciprocates: Trump’s fund buys an equal amount of the project token
- Step 3 – Pump It: Project touts the Trump tie-up to drive publicity and price
This simple quid-pro-quo has given rise to a new token launch playbook. Young crypto founders now make pilgrimages to Trump events in the hopes of catching the eye of the WLFI inner circle. A public photo op with a Trump is practically as valuable as a Tier 1 exchange listing. “Sure, you need a viable product too,” said MOVE token founder Rushi Manche, “but this is an attention game now.”
The MOVE Token’s Trump-Fueled Rise
Manche’s Movement Labs project demonstrates the stunning power of the Trump publicity engine. News of WLFI’s MOVE token purchases sent the asset soaring, as Manche whipped up speculation by playing coy about ties to government agencies.
“It shows a good sign of faith, a sign of solidarity with the Movement ecosystem, to have the President’s DeFi fund buying MOVE.”
— Rushi Manche, Movement Labs Founder
A New Precedent
The Trump family makes no apologies for their newfound crypto market-moving power. Eric Trump recently tweeted a recommendation to buy Ethereum, before hastily editing it. But some lawmakers are crying foul, alleging conflicts of interest and insider dealing within the incestuous new network of Trump tokens.
Regardless, the WLFI model has undeniably inaugurated a new era for crypto. A sitting U.S. president is now, for better or worse, the industry’s most influential kingmaker. Plucky blockchain founders will pull out all the stops for a chance to bask in his limelight. How this will ultimately impact innovation and decentralization remains to be seen, but for now, all eyes are on what token The Donald will thrust into the spotlight next.
