Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed have called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Treasury to investigate World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency firm reportedly tied to the Trump family. The senators raised concerns about potential links between WLFI and illicit actors, citing allegations that the firm sold tokens to entities with connections to North Korea, Russia, and other questionable entities.
Warren and Reed, in their letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, emphasized the risk WLFI may pose to U.S. national security. The senators pointed to a report from the watchdog group Accountable, which accused WLFI of selling its native tokens to suspicious entities, including those connected to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. They also raised concerns about the crypto firm’s governance practices, suggesting that WLFI lacks sufficient safeguards against bad actors attempting to move illicit funds or influence governance.
The senators pointed out that WLFI sold 600,000 of its tokens to a trader linked to the North Korean hacking group. Furthermore, they noted that some of the traders’ wallets were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). This raised alarms about the firm’s involvement in potential money laundering activities and the risks posed to U.S. security.
Ties to the Trump Family and Financial Conflicts
The senators also warned about potential conflicts of interest arising from the Trump family’s involvement in WLFI. They highlighted the ties between WLFI and a company, DT Marks DEFI LLC, which holds billions of WLFI tokens. The senators claimed that 75% of the proceeds from WLFI token sales benefit Trump and his family. This raises concerns that financial gains from these sales could align with national security risks, particularly when entities linked to North Korea and Russia are involved.
Additionally, Warren and Reed criticized WLFI for its apparent lack of robust anti-money laundering (AML) controls, which could allow illicit financial activity to thrive on the platform. As the crypto market grows, the senators emphasized the need for stricter oversight and stronger safeguards.
Growing Concern Over Crypto Regulations
Warren and Reed’s call for an investigation comes at a time when Congress is considering new regulations for the cryptocurrency market. The senators are pushing for increased oversight to ensure that cryptocurrency firms like WLFI do not escape U.S. jurisdiction or avoid essential recordkeeping and disclosure requirements. Their request also highlights concerns that crypto firms with insufficient safeguards could enable illicit financial activities.