Emre Yumlu 
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a crypto venture associated with the Trump family, has introduced a notable change to its governance structure following the approval of a new community proposal. Under the newly adopted rule, WLFI token holders will be required to lock their tokens for a specific period if they wish to participate in governance decisions that shape the protocol’s future.
The proposal was finalized through a Snapshot vote and received overwhelming support from the community. Out of roughly 1,800 votes cast, about 99.12% backed the change. However, the distribution of voting power drew attention, as more than 76% of the tokens used in the vote came from just ten participants.
180-Day Lock-Up Required for Voting Rights
According to the approved governance change, WLFI holders must stake their tokens for a minimum of 180 days in order to maintain their ability to vote on protocol-related matters. The project’s team stated that the purpose of this mechanism is to ensure that governance decisions are influenced primarily by participants who have a long-term commitment to the platform.
To encourage participation, the system also introduces an incentive structure. Users who lock their tokens and take part in at least two governance votes during the lock-up period will be eligible to earn an annual yield of 2% on their staked WLFI. Token holders who already had their tokens locked prior to the rule change will not be affected and can continue participating in governance as before.
Addressing Low Participation in DAO Governance
Low voter turnout has long been a challenge for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Estimates suggest that participation rates in many DAO governance votes often range between 15% and 25%, raising concerns about the effectiveness of decentralized decision-making.
Various proposals have been discussed within the industry to address this issue. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has suggested that AI-powered personal assistants could help users participate in governance more efficiently. Meanwhile, Aave founder Stani Kulechov has previously proposed that leadership teams may need to play a larger role in decision-making processes in some cases.
WLFI’s lock-up requirement represents another attempt to improve engagement and ensure that active participants play a greater role in governance outcomes.
Special Access for Large Token Stakers
Another element of the proposal introduces potential benefits for large-scale token holders. Users who stake at least 50 million WLFI tokens—estimated to be worth around $5 million—may gain direct access to the WLFI team for potential collaboration opportunities.
Project representatives clarified that this access primarily applies to the business development team and senior executives rather than specific founders. They also emphasized that such access does not guarantee any form of partnership.
Long-Term Vision for WLFI
World Liberty Financial aims to build a broader crypto-powered financial ecosystem centered around its stablecoin, USD1. The project plans to support additional DeFi applications while also integrating with other stablecoin initiatives that seek to reinforce the global role of the US dollar.
To support this vision, WLFI has applied for a national trust bank charter in the United States, which would allow the project to expand the usage of USD1 within a regulated financial framework. The team has also explored potential tokenization initiatives involving assets such as real estate and oil and gas.
Since its launch, the WLFI governance system has conducted six Snapshot votes. Previous proposals included initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of the USD1 stablecoin and making the WLFI governance token tradable within the ecosystem.
You can share your opinions in the comments about the topic. Also, follow us on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube for more content like this.