Watchdog Accuses Trump’s Crypto Venture Of Selling Tokens To North Korea, Iran

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

United States President Donald Trump’s crypto venture is facing fresh scrutiny after a government watchdog said the project sold tokens to buyers linked to hostile or sanctioned actors, including entities tied to North Korea and Iran.

The watchdog’s findings have added a political and regulatory sting to a token that has already drawn heavy public attention and big holdings by the Trump family.

Watchdog Accuses WLFl Of Questionable Sales

According to a new report from Accountable.US, World Liberty Financial Inc. — the firm behind the WLFI token — sold units to wallets that appear connected to groups or platforms of concern, such as addresses tied to North Korean actors and users who have interacted with Tornado Cash, the crypto-mixing service that regulators have flagged for money-laundering risks.

Image: Accountable.US

The watchdog released wallet examples and transaction links to support its claims. The label used by the watchdog — “American Sell-Out” — has been echoed by multiple news outlets and social posts that highlighted the report’s blunt language.

“Trump’s crypto empire is a vehicle for foreign actors to buy influence anonymously and without disclosure.”

Our executive director Tony Carrk reveals how Trump’s crypto venture puts U.S. workers and investors at risk. pic.twitter.com/8phS0blq41

— Accountable.US (@accountable_us) September 19, 2025

Reports have disclosed that at least some token buyers used foreign exchanges and services restricted to US users, which raises questions about whether some holders are based overseas or are using tools to mask their origin.

Foreign Links Raise National Security Concerns

The report’s authors argue the pattern merits national security attention because tokens tied to a high-profile US political family could become an avenue for influence or sanctions circumvention.

Based on Accountable.US’s analysis of WLFI’s top holders, at least 14 of the largest addresses — together holding over 6.7 billion tokens valued in the hundreds of millions at recent prices — have used platforms that are restricted for US customers, suggesting a strong possibility some are foreign.

WLFIUSD trading at $0.24 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

The watchdog stopped short of asserting deliberate lawbreaking by World Liberty, but it urged official review.

US President Donald Trump’s family disclosures show the family controls a substantial stake in the project. Reports have noted that the family holds 22.5 billion WLFI tokens; that stake has been valued at about $5 billion at certain market levels, though prices have swung since the token’s debut.

Those figures have intensified calls for transparency about who bought the coin and how sales were screened.

Markets Notice And Regulators Watch

Market moves have already followed the headlines. WLFI’s price fell sharply on its opening day of public trading, a sign that investor appetite was mixed even before the watchdog’s report.

Trading volatility and public debate over token freezes and unlocks have kept WLFI in the headlines as exchanges and token holders react.

Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.