Just In: World Liberty Financial to Launch Strategic Reserve as Trump Jr. Backs Crypto

World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance (DeFi) project associated with President elect Donald Trump’s family, has announced plans to establish a “strategic reserve” of cryptocurrency assets.

The announcement was made by WLF co-founder Chase Herro at the Ondo Summit in New York, where Donald Trump Jr. also expressed strong support for the digital asset industry.

Trump Jr. Calls Crypto the “Future of American Hegemony”

Donald Trump Jr. made a surprise appearance at the Ondo Summit on Thursday, where he spoke about cryptocurrency’s role in global finance. Addressing industry leaders, he stated that he believes crypto will shape the future of the U.S. economy.

“I think it’s perhaps the future of American hegemony, in terms of our economic status, our economic might,” Trump Jr. said at the event. His remarks were part of a broader discussion on the role of digital assets in financial markets and regulatory policies.

WLF, which has been actively purchasing digital tokens in recent months, recently acquired $470,000 worth of ONDO, the native cryptocurrency of Ondo Finance. The company has also invested in Ethereum (ETH), wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC), Tron’s TRX, AAVE, and Chainlink’s LINK, among other tokens.

World Liberty Financial’s Strategic Reserve Plans

Chase Herro, co-founder of WLF, revealed that the company is setting up a strategic crypto reserve but did not specify its intended purpose.

“We are big builder fans,” he said, referring to WLF’s continued investment in digital assets.

The idea of a cryptocurrency reserve has been a topic of discussion since Trump’s presidential campaign last year. In January, he signed an executive action to evaluate the feasibility of a digital asset stockpile. This has fueled speculation about the role WLF could play in shaping national policies on decentralized finance.

Crypto Industry Leaders and Government Officials Attend Ondo Summit

The Ondo Summit gathered key figures from the cryptocurrency industry and government, including Patrick McHenry, Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, and acting Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Caroline Pham. The event focused on topics such as tokenization and regulatory challenges.

Former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair J. Christopher Giancarlo spoke about the current administration’s approach to cryptocurrency regulation. “The promises are being delivered on,” he said, referencing Trump’s policies on digital assets. He also noted that while reversing previous regulations is one step, establishing new policies remains a challenge.

William Hinman, a senior advisor at Andreessen Horowitz, cautioned that regulatory changes will take time. “There’ll be some improvements, but I think that’s gonna take time,” he said, referring to legislative efforts to update crypto regulations.

World Liberty Financial Expands Its Crypto Portfolio

Earlier this week, WLF made additional cryptocurrency purchases following a decline in the market. The company reportedly acquired tens of millions of dollars worth of Ether after the price dropped over the weekend. The decline came after the U.S. president briefly imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada, affecting global financial markets.

Although WLF has been promoted as a DeFi lending platform, it has not yet launched its operations. So far, it is mainly known for acquiring various digital tokens. The company’s investments and strategic reserve plans have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, given the Trump family’s involvement and the administration’s influence over crypto regulations.

Meanwhile, Ondo Finance has announced plans to launch Ondo Chain, a new blockchain designed for tokenized assets. The company’s developments have drawn attention from investors and policymakers as discussions about digital finance continue.