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Trump-linked WLFI hits new low as token-backed loan sparks concern

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Crypto Breaking News

WLFI, the native token of World Liberty Financial—the Donald Trump–backed platform—took a deeper slide over the weekend as new on-chain disclosures raised questions about the project’s use of its own tokens as loan collateral. Trading near $0.078, WLFI marked an all-time low after sinking roughly 83% from its September peak around $0.46, according to data tracked by CoinMarketCap. The fresh selloff followed revelations that wallets tied to World Liberty Financial deposited substantial WLFI holdings on Dolomite, a DeFi lending protocol co-founded by the project’s chief technology officer, Corey Caplan, and then used those tokens as collateral to borrow USD1 and USDC stablecoins. The proceeds were partly moved to Coinbase Prime, fueling concerns about liquidity and risk in a relatively obscure DeFi niche.

On-chain analytics from Arkham show a wallet associated with World Liberty Financial placing a colossal 5 billion WLFI tokens on Dolomite. The same wallet subsequently borrowed about $75 million in USD1 and USDC and transferred more than $40 million to Coinbase Prime. The size of the position ignited debate among DeFi observers about whether WLFI’s price could withstand a material move in liquidation risk should the token’s liquidity prove insufficient to cover a rapid margin call.

Key takeaways

  • WLFI traded around $0.078 after hitting an all-time low near $0.077, marking an 83% decline from its September high of about $0.46 (CoinMarketCap).
  • On-chain data from Arkham indicates a wallet linked to World Liberty Financial deposited roughly 5 billion WLFI on Dolomite and used the collateral to borrow around $75 million in USD1 and USDC, with more than $40 million moved to Coinbase Prime.
  • Dolomite’s footprint remains modest within DeFi, ranking about 19th by total value locked (TVL) among lending protocols, per DefiLlama.
  • World Liberty acknowledges its lending activity, asserting that its positions sit well above liquidation thresholds and characterizes itself as an “anchor borrower” intended to generate yield for users amid low traditional-market activity.
  • A governance proposal is planned to implement a phased unlock schedule for WLFI held by early retail buyers, replacing immediate access with a long-term vesting plan subject to community vote.

On-chain activity and the liquidity question

The core concern centers on the scale of WLFI used as collateral and what a price move could trigger for lenders on Dolomite. Analysts have warned that a 5% or larger forced sale of WLFI from such a large collateral position could compress liquidity quickly, given WLFI’s market depth and the token’s relatively modest liquidity profile. While World Liberty’s public communications emphasize that the loan book remains well above liquidation thresholds, observers note that a sudden price shock or a cascade of liquidations could expose both the Dolomite pool and other users who rely on its lending markets.

Dolomite’s standing in the DeFi universe is notable but not outsized. It sits far below leaders by TVL, a reality that can complicate risk management for lenders that rely on single-asset collateral with limited trading liquidity. This backdrop amplifies the importance of robust risk controls and transparent governance, especially when a token possesses a high narrative premium but limited natural liquidity.

World Liberty’s stance and the governance plan ahead

World Liberty Financial responded to the disclosures through social channels, arguing that the firm’s positions are prudent and that the strategy serves as a mechanism to provide outsized stablecoin yields in an environment where traditional assets often yield little. The project described itself as an “anchor borrower,” a role intended to stabilize the WLFI ecosystem while delivering yield to everyday users who participate in the platform’s offerings.

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In a move to address investor concerns about token dynamics, World Liberty said on X that it would soon submit a governance proposal aimed at altering token unlock mechanics. The plan would replace the immediate access enjoyed by early retail WLFI holders with a phased unlock schedule, implemented through a community-driven vote. If approved, the long-term vesting framework could help reduce the likelihood of abrupt, large-scale WLFI selling pressure tied to token distribution, potentially easing some market anxiety in the near term.

Broader implications for WLFI holders and DeFi markets

The episode underscores several recurring themes in crypto markets: the tension between tokenomics and practical liquidity, the risk of using a highly concentrated or illiquid token as the backbone for large-margin loans, and the sensitivity of retail holders to governance decisions that affect token accessibility.

For investors and traders, the development highlights a few practical considerations. First, even seemingly large, high-profile projects can face liquidity strains when a significant portion of the supply is deployed as collateral on a single DeFi venue. Second, governance proposals—especially those that affect vesting and unlock schedules—can materially shape perceived risk and price dynamics. Third, the ongoing move to clarify and formalize unlock mechanics signals a maturation process in a sector where tokenized projects have historically offered broad access with less emphasis on long-term holder alignment.

From a market structure perspective, the Dolomite exposure calls into question the risk budgeting of smaller DeFi lending platforms that might rely on a handful of large positions. While Dolomite remains a relatively small player by TVL, the event illustrates how collateral quality and token liquidity can become systemic concerns when a project is positioned as a solar-anchored yield generator for a broad user base.

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In the context of broader regulatory and market developments, observers will be watching for how governance shifts are implemented and whether additional disclosures accompany on-chain activity into future quarters. The balance between encouraging user-friendly yields and maintaining robust risk controls will likely shape both WLFI’s trajectory and the wider DeFi lending landscape as platforms evaluate collateral standards and liquidity risk frameworks.

As WLFI navigates this period of scrutiny, investors should monitor price action, liquidity cues, and the outcomes of forthcoming governance discussions. The unfolding narrative will help determine whether the project can restore confidence in its tokenomics, or whether tighter risk management and more transparent capital practices will become the baseline expectation for participants in WLFI’s ecosystem.

Source notes: WLFI’s price data tracked by CoinMarketCap; on-chain activity and collateral details drawn from Arkham analytics; the project’s DeFi footprint cited via DefiLlama; official responses and governance plans referenced through World Liberty Financial’s public statements.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Crypto World

Can Bitcoin ETF Inflows Sustain Momentum as Institutional Buying Builds?

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of 3,350 BTC, worth roughly $240M, in a single trading day.
  • BlackRock led all issuers with 3,741 BTC in daily inflows, driving the bulk of the day’s net positive result.
  • Grayscale posted another 162 BTC outflow, continuing a months-long pattern of legacy holder redemptions.
  • The 7-day cumulative inflow reached 7,358 BTC, confirming a broader and sustained accumulation wave forming.

Spot Bitcoin ETF inflows recorded 3,350 BTC, worth approximately $240 million, in a single trading day. BlackRock led all issuers while Grayscale continued its steady outflow trend. 

ETFs now collectively hold 721,090 BTC valued at roughly $56.75 billion, reflecting a sustained shift in Bitcoin ownership from active market circulation into long-term institutional balance sheets.

BlackRock Leads a Two-Speed ETF Market

Bitcoin ETF inflows continue to reflect a clear divide among issuers. BlackRock recorded a single-day inflow of 3,741 BTC, accounting for the bulk of the day’s net positive figure. 

That one entry essentially drove the entire day’s result across all spot ETF products. Grayscale posted another outflow of 162 BTC, extending a pattern that has held for months. 

Legacy holders are exiting while new institutional capital enters through lower-fee, more efficient vehicles. Fidelity, Bitwise, and ARK Invest contributed steady secondary demand but remain well behind BlackRock in volume.

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The contrast between issuers reflects a broader rotation in how institutions access Bitcoin. Newer, cost-efficient products are attracting the larger flows. 

Older structures continue to see gradual redemptions as capital migrates toward better-structured options. This two-speed dynamic shows no sign of reversing in the near term.

721,000 BTC Absorbed as Supply Squeeze Builds

ETFs collectively hold 721,090 BTC, valued at approximately $56.75 billion, marking a structural shift in Bitcoin ownership. Coins entering ETF products tend to remain there, reducing the amount of Bitcoin available for active trading. 

Each inflow day quietly removes more supply from the liquid market. The 7-day cumulative inflow total reached 7,358 BTC, confirming that the single-day figure was not an isolated event. 

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Despite periodic outflow days visible in the daily flow data, the cumulative trend line has continued moving upward. That resilience points to consistent absorption, where selling pressure is steadily met by fresh institutional demand.

Meanwhile, Ethereum products showed mixed flows, and Solana-linked products recorded net outflows over the same period. That divergence reinforces Bitcoin’s position as the primary institutional entry point among digital assets. 

In transitional market phases, capital tends to consolidate into the most established asset, and Bitcoin continues to fill that role.

With sell-side liquidity thinning, marginal buyers are increasingly required to bid higher to acquire meaningful size. The accumulation slope accelerated in late 2024 and again in mid-2025, both phases aligning with rising price momentum. 

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Yesterday’s inflow pattern suggests a similar setup may be forming if consecutive positive days follow.

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WLFI Token Hits All-Time Low Amid World Liberty’s DeFi Lending Controversy

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WLFI Token Hits All-Time Low Amid World Liberty’s DeFi Lending Controversy

World Liberty Financial has scrambled to pay down $25 million of its highly scrutinized loan on the DeFi lending protocol Dolomite.

The immediate repayments comprise $15 million on April 7 and an additional $10 million on April 10. These payments arrive amid mounting industry backlash over the project’s use of its own token as collateral.

WLFI’s Repayment Follows Intense Community Pressure

Data from BeInCrypto showed that the ongoing controversy dragged the WLFI token down to an all-time low of $0.07967. This is its weakest performance since the project’s highly publicized rollout in 2025.

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The market rout follows revelations that World Liberty essentially used its own governance tokens as collateral to extract massive quantities of stablecoins.

According to Arkham Intelligence, the Trump-affiliated venture pledged roughly $406 million worth of WLFI across two digital wallets to borrow $150 million in USDC.

This maneuver rapidly depleted Dolomite’s USD1 lending pool, pushing utilization rates above 93%. Consequently, retail depositors faced a severe liquidity crunch, making it difficult to withdraw their funds.

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Meanwhile, the optics of the transaction were further complicated by intertwined leadership. Dolomite co-founder Corey Caplan currently serves as an official advisor to World Liberty Financial.

As the digital asset’s price cratered, DeFi analysts raised alarms regarding the systemic risk of bad debt. WLFI’s collateral now accounts for approximately 55% of Dolomite’s $835.7 million in total value locked, heavily concentrating risk in a single, depreciating asset.

World Liberty Financial Dismisses ‘FUD’

However, World Liberty executives have aggressively pushed back against the market anxiety, dismissing insolvency fears as “FUD.”

In a series of social media statements, the developers argued that their massive borrowing benefits the broader ecosystem. They claimed that acting as an “anchor borrower” generates outsized yield for other participants.

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However, critics warned that a sharper decline could raise the risk of bad debt for lenders if collateral values fall faster than the position can be adjusted. World Liberty rejected that scenario, saying it could post more collateral if needed.

“We are one of the largest suppliers and borrowers on WLFI Markets. Yes, we supplied WLFI as collateral and borrowed stablecoins. No, we are nowhere near liquidation — and frankly, even if markets moved dramatically against us, we’d simply supply more collateral. That’s not a risk. That’s how this works,” the team added.

In a simultaneous bid to appease early backers facing steep paper losses, World Liberty announced an upcoming governance proposal to unlock restricted tokens.

According to the team, the proposed framework will feature a structured, long-term vesting schedule specifically targeted at early retail buyers.

The post WLFI Token Hits All-Time Low Amid World Liberty’s DeFi Lending Controversy appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Epic Market Flash Crash Killed Bull Market: Is Crypto Healthier Now?

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Epic Market Flash Crash Killed Bull Market: Is Crypto Healthier Now?

Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin orderbook depth has plummeted by 50% since September 2025, signaling a substantial decline in overall market liquidity.

  • Indicators suggest that the current market fragility stems more from recent 2026 trends than from the 2025 flash crash itself.

Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto markets took a massive hit on Oct. 10, 2025, precisely 6 months ago. That devastating flash crash wiped out a record-breaking $19 billion in leveraged positions while some altcoins collapsed 40% to 80%. Many traders speculated that multiple market makers had been wiped out, while others accused the Binance exchange of blatant manipulation.

Was the crypto market structure actually altered after the October 2025 crash, and what has changed in liquidity, derivatives markets, and institutional metrics?

Aggregate Bitcoin spot +1% to -1% orderbook depth, USD. Source: CoinAnk

Bitcoin’s aggregate orderbook depth, ranging from +1% to -1%, typically oscillated between $180 million and $260 million in September 2025. On most days, there would be a healthy $90 million in bids, but that was not the case on Oct. 10, 2025. A mix of technical issues at Binance and auto-deleveraging on decentralized exchanges caused a temporary liquidity lapse.

During the flash crash, Bitcoin’s orderbook depth entered a downward spiral, stabilizing near $150 million by mid-November 2025. Currently, Bitcoin’s order book depth seldom exceeds $130 million, down 50% from levels seen in September 2025.

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The already fragile market conditions deteriorated further in February 2026. Bitcoin’s orderbook depth plunged below $60 million for nearly 10 days as the price struggled to hold the $65,000 level. Cryptocurrency market volumes declined considerably, especially in the derivatives markets.

Total crypto trading volume, USD. Source: TokenInsight

Cryptocurrency derivatives volumes oscillated between $40 billion and $130 billion over the past 30 days, falling short of the $200 billion mark commonly seen in September 2025. Still, the reduced appetite for futures contracts is not necessarily a bearish indicator as longs (buyers) and shorts (sellers) are evenly matched at all times.

Demand for bullish leverage remains weak, ETF volumes lag

The Bitcoin perpetual futures funding rate can be used to assess traders’ risk appetite.

Bitcoin perpetual futures annualized funding rate. Source: Laevitas

Under normal conditions, the indicator should range between 6% to 12% to compensate for the cost of capital. Excessive demand for bearish leverage can push the indicator below 0%, meaning shorts are the ones paying to keep their positions open. Data indicate stable conditions throughout November 2025, followed by a sharp decline in February 2026.

Curiously, volumes of US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were not impacted by the Oct. 10, 2025 flash crash. In fact, by late November, activity in those instruments jumped to their highest levels in 20 months at $11.5 billion per day. 

Related: Binance adds spot trading guardrails to limit abnormal executions

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US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs daily trading volume, USD. Source: Coinglass

Bitcoin ETFs regularly traded at volumes above $4 billion per day between January and March 2026, but eventually fell below $3.3 billion by the first week of April. Similarly, US-listed Ether (ETH) ETFs average daily volume dropped to $1 billion, down from $2 billion in September 2025. 

Orderbook depth, funding rate, derivatives and ETF volumes all point to a much less healthy cryptocurrency market in April 2026 relative to 6 months prior. However, given that the market structure held relatively firm through February 2026, the relevance of the Oct. 10, 2025 flash crash seems much less than previously imagined.