World Liberty Financial has approved a new governance system that requires token holders to lock their tokens for 180 days to vote, while offering top tier stakers direct access to the project’s team.
Key Takeaways
- WLFI holders approved a proposal that requires a 180-day token lockup for voting rights in governance.
- The proposal passed with 99.12% support from 1,800 votes, though more than 76% of voting power came from 10 wallets.
- A new Super Node tier requires 50 million WLFI, worth about $5 million, and offers direct access to the team for partnership discussions.
- The move is part of a broader push to reward long term holders, expand USD1, and redirect value away from market makers.
What Happened?
World Liberty Financial, the crypto project tied to the family of US President Donald Trump, has passed a major governance proposal that changes how token holders can participate in decision making. Under the new rules, holders of unlocked WLFI tokens must stake them for 180 days before they can vote on protocol matters.
The proposal also creates a tiered staking structure, including a high end level that gives major token holders direct access to the WLFI team. That feature has drawn the most attention because it places a steep $5 million price tag on closer engagement with the project.
LATEST: ⚡ World Liberty Financial passed a proposal requiring WLFI holders to lock up their tokens for 180 days to retain voting rights, with a 2% annual yield for those who stay active in governance. pic.twitter.com/w39oHQoyzH
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) March 16, 2026
New Rules Shift Governance Toward Long Term Holders
According to the proposal, the main goal is to make sure only participants with long-term alignment can influence the protocol’s future. WLFI said the lockup is designed to favor committed holders over short term speculators.
Token holders who stake their tokens and take part in at least two governance votes during the lock period can earn about 2% annual yield. Users whose tokens are already locked will still be able to vote without any new staking step.
This governance overhaul passed with 99.12% approval, but the voting breakdown raised questions about concentration. While 1,800 votes were cast, more than 76% of the voting power came from just 10 wallets.
$5 Million Tier Opens Door to Team Access
The proposal introduces three staking levels, including a Base tier for voting and a Node tier that requires 10 million WLFI, or around $1 million. That middle tier also allows holders to convert stablecoins into USD1 at 1:1 parity through licensed market makers.
The most exclusive level is the Super Node tier. It requires 50 million WLFI, valued at roughly $5 million, and offers what the proposal described as guaranteed direct access to the WLFI team for collaboration and partnership talks.
Reuters reported that WLFI spokesman David Wachsman said this access refers to the project’s business development team and executives, not specific founders, and does not guarantee a partnership. Still, the offer creates a clear gap between ordinary holders and deep pocketed participants.
Project materials list Eric Trump, Barron Trump, Zach Witkoff, and Alex Witkoff among the figures supporting the platform. Zach Witkoff is identified as the company’s CEO.
Bigger Plans Around USD1 and Banking Ambitions
The governance changes also fit into WLFI’s broader strategy around its USD1 stablecoin. The company says the new structure could redirect value that previously went to market makers back toward ecosystem participants.
WLFI is also seeking a national trust bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. At the same time, the company is exploring asset tokenization, including real estate and oil and gas, and has reportedly considered a publicly traded company that would hold WLFI tokens.
That expansion push has also brought political scrutiny, with some lawmakers questioning whether the banking application should move ahead without addressing potential conflicts tied to the project’s Trump family links.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my experience, governance changes usually say a lot about who a project wants to empower. I found this WLFI move significant because it rewards committed holders on paper, but it also gives major advantages to wealthy participants who can afford the top tier. That may strengthen loyalty inside the ecosystem, but it also risks making governance feel less open to the broader community.
