World Liberty Financial announced it will introduce a governance proposal next week to set a phased unlock schedule for WLFI tokens held by early retail purchasers. The draft will be opened for community feedback before a formal vote and would create a long-term vesting plan that releases tokens in stages rather than allowing an immediate, full unlock.
WLFI tokens are still largely non-transferable for many early buyers, with transfers governed by community-approved unlocks. According to Tokenomist data, about 24.67% of WLFI’s 100 billion supply has been released while roughly 75.33% remains locked or awaiting future unlock decisions. The pending proposal could decide when early purchasers gain liquidity for tokens whose primary utility to date has been governance voting.
Sale documentation originally stated WLFI tokens were non-transferable and could remain locked indefinitely, with any unlock subject to a governance vote no earlier than 12 months after the token sale and without a guaranteed timetable. That 12-month threshold has passed: WLFI’s public sale began around mid-October 2024, placing the current proposal at roughly 18 months after the initial sale. World Liberty raised at least $550 million from WLFI sales across two funding rounds.
Some self-identified presale and early buyers have publicly complained that substantial portions of their allocations remain locked even as other parts of the supply became transferable. At least one buyer said they filed legal notices and were pursuing claims in the United States and the Netherlands against World Liberty Financial and certain backers; those legal actions could not be independently verified from public records.
The proposal and complaints follow earlier governance changes affecting transferability. On March 16, WLFI holders approved a measure introducing a six-month lock-up rule for certain transfers — one of the first formal modifications to the project’s transfer rules.
Community concern has been magnified by onchain activity tied to the project’s treasury. A community member flagged borrowing transactions and questioned the use of treasury funds. Onchain records show World Liberty’s treasury borrowed roughly $75 million in stablecoins from Dolomite, using WLFI as collateral.
The planned governance proposal will be presented for discussion before it goes to a formal vote, giving holders an opportunity to comment on timing and the staged release mechanics. How the community responds could determine when and how early holders regain access to liquidity.
World Liberty did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Readers are encouraged to consult primary sources and governance forums for updates and to verify details independently.