The founder of Tron, Justin Sun, has disclosed a major setback tied to his involvement with World Liberty Financial (WLFI)—a loss estimated at $60 million due to tokens remaining locked and inaccessible.
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From High-Profile Support to Public Fallout
Justin Sun has been one of the most visible backers of WLFI, a DeFi initiative linked to U.S. President Donald Trump. Sun committed substantial capital to Trump-affiliated crypto ventures, investing:
$75 million directly into WLFI
$100 million into the TRUMP memecoin, making him its largest known holder
In total, Sun’s exposure to Trump-backed crypto projects reportedly reached $175 million.
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Asset Freeze and Blacklisting Allegations
Tensions surfaced in September, when Sun transferred roughly $9 million worth of WLFI tokens to another address. Shortly afterward, the WLFI team froze Sun’s assets, accusing him of potential price manipulation.
Sun publicly pushed back, stating the tokens were “sacred and inviolable” and arguing that he was being denied equal treatment. Despite his objections, WLFI refused to lift the freeze, and Sun has remained effectively sidelined from the project ever since.
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$60 Million Erosion in Token Value
More than three months later, blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps reported that Sun is still blacklisted by WLFI. During this period, the market value of his locked WLFI tokens dropped by approximately $60 million.
Bubblemaps described the situation bluntly, noting that the prolonged lockup combined with declining token prices has resulted in a severe unrealized loss.
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A Surprising Turn for a Major Backer
Given Sun’s vocal support for the Trump-linked DeFi project, the prolonged freeze came as a shock to many in the crypto community. Rather than gaining strategic influence or upside from the partnership, Sun now finds himself holding illiquid assets in a project where he appears unwelcome.
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Broader Implications
The episode highlights the risks of centralized controls within supposedly decentralized ecosystems, especially when governance disputes arise. It also underscores how reputational friction, regulatory concerns, and internal enforcement actions can rapidly turn a high-profile crypto investment into a costly liability.
For now, Sun’s $60 million loss remains unrealized—but unless the lockup status changes, it stands as one of the most notable personal setbacks tied to the recent wave of politically linked crypto projects.
