Trump Sons’ $1.5B WLFI Deal Shakes Up Wall Street

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the crypto venture co-founded by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., has taken a major leap into the spotlight. On Wednesday, the brothers joined a Nasdaq bell-ringing ceremony in Times Square, celebrating a $1.5 billion token arrangement that could push their firm into the upper ranks of decentralized finance.

Strategic Bet on WLFI

The move marks a bold pivot from conventional corporate crypto strategies, steering away from established digital assets toward the company’s own WLFI token , a project not yet trading on centralized exchanges.

The deal centers on Las Vegas-based ALT5 Sigma Corp., a relatively small fintech and biotech player until now. According to a Bloomberg report, before the announcement, ALT5’s market value was under $150 million . 

Following the disclosure, it surged to nearly $850 million. Under the agreement, ALT5 will acquire 7.5% of WLFI’s total token supply, positioning itself as a major holder in a yet-to-be-listed asset.

Supporters say the Trump sons’ deal could integrate crypto with traditional markets, meeting rising investor demand for crossover opportunities. Eric Trump framed the plan as a bridge between Wall Street and blockchain-based finance.

The strategy mirrors Michael Saylor’s 2020 move, when MicroStrategy (now Strategy) added Bitcoin to its corporate balance sheet.

Investor Caution and Market Questions

However, not all investors are convinced. Some have expressed concern about creating a public treasury for an unlisted token. Morten Christensen, an existing investor, acknowledged the concept could draw attention but described it as highly unconventional. Critics like Lex Sokolin of Generative Ventures question the decision to use a public vehicle for such a new asset, warning it could be designed to create buying pressure.

Despite skepticism, the structure is legally feasible under current U.S. policy. The SEC has indicated most tokens are not securities, giving firms more flexibility in designing treasury strategies. Besides market exposure, such arrangements can carry tax benefits, allowing companies to defer capital gains until asset sales.

Speculation and Broader Trends

Deals involving younger tokens are becoming more common. Alliance Global Partners, which worked on the WLFI structure, recently arranged a similar transaction for Mill City Ventures III to accumulate the SUI token.

Some analysts, including Austin Campbell of Zero Knowledge Consulting, see parallels between today’s surge in speculative token investments and pre-2008 financial exuberance . They caution that these models depend heavily on continuous price appreciation to remain viable.