Trump-Linked Crypto Project WLFI Faces Backlash Over Wallet Blacklisting
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency project associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump, has ignited controversy after blacklisting 272 wallets. High-profile figures including Polygon developer Bruno Skvorc and TRON founder Justin Sun reported frozen assets, with Skvorc likening the project to "the new age mafia" for its opaque appeal process.
The project claims 79% of blacklisted wallets were tied to phishing attempts, while 18% involved compromised accounts. This incident highlights growing tensions between decentralized ethos and compliance measures in crypto, particularly around automated risk-assessment tools that critics argue lack due process.
Market observers note the case underscores persistent governance challenges in blockchain projects, especially those with centralized control features. The backlash comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of wallet-sanctioning practices across major exchanges.