DWF Labs Opens New York Office, Acquires $25M in WLFI Tokens to Boost U.S. DeFi Presence
Key Takeaways:
- DWF Labs announced its expansion into the U.S. with a new office in New York City.
- In a private transaction, the firm secured $25 million in WLFI tokens.
- Liquidity support will focus on USD1, a fully-backed stablecoin created by WLFI.
DWF Labs Expands US Reach with Strategic WLFI Token Deal
DWF Labs has expanded its footprint in the global decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem by opening a new U.S. office in New York City and acquiring $25 million worth of WLFI governance tokens from World Liberty Financial.
The expansion showcases DWF Labs’ increasing interest in the U.S. market for institutional crypto adoption. The New York office will help the firm partner with US-based banks, asset managers, and fintech firms, as well as provide another channel for closer engagement with regulators and academic institutions.
WLFI Token Purchase of $25M Represents Long-Term Strategic Alignment
In line with its U.S. strategy, DWF Labs executed a private transaction for $25 million in WLFI tokens, establishing itself as a key player in the governance of World Liberty Financial.
WLFI, inspired by political ideals associated with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, aims to democratize finance through user-governed protocols and institutional-grade infrastructure. Its flagship product, USD1, is a fully-collateralized stablecoin, backed by short-term US Treasuries, dollar deposits, and cash equivalents, redeemable at a 1:1 value against the US dollar. USD1 is designed to serve as a reliable on-chain alternative to traditional stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, with a heightened focus on transparency and institutional trust.
The investment provides direct influence in WLFI’s governance, product development, and long-term direction, allowing the firm to help shape WLFI’s future. The firm is expected to help shape WLFI’s trajectory as the company develops a next-generation financial infrastructure focused on both retail and institutional users.
Primary Focus: Supporting USD1 Liquidity Among Stablecoins
The partners aim to increase the adoption of USD1, WLFI’s upcoming stablecoin as one of the immediate goals of their collaboration. DWF Labs will utilize its existing algorithmic trading infrastructure and liquidity network across centralized and decentralized platforms to underpin deep markets and a stable value of USD1.
As the foundation of the new financial architecture, stablecoins have proven integral to the DeFi stack, and USD1 was introduced as an institution-ready asset to unlock the biggest objectives of putting decentralized protocols to work in the real world. Zak Folkman, co-founder of WLFI, was confident DWF Labs’ participation would expedite development and position USD1 as a central pillar of a robust digital economy.
New York Office Will Promote Policy Engagement and Hiring
Beyond trading, the New York office will have a strategic role. DWF Labs intends to directly engage with U.S. policymakers, helping to shape the evolving debate around crypto regulation and digital asset compliance. The firm also plans to work with U.S. universities, with a goal to support blockchain education and research.
The company believes regulatory clarity and talent development are critical for long-term DeFi adoption — and sees its New York presence as essential for achieving both.
Aiming to Position for Institutional DeFi Growth
The U.S. is the most important single market for digital asset innovation, Managing Partner Andrei Grachev said. The physical presence that DWF Labs has in New York highlights strong confidence in potential for institutional-level crypto integration in the region, he added.
And with over 60 exchange integrations and a rapidly expanding investment portfolio, DWF Labs has positioned itself as a dominant player in the Web3 finance space. Its arrival in the U.S. is expected to add to the legitimacy of DeFi projects looking for scalability, liquidity and regulatory readiness.
The WLFI partnership and expansion to New York represent key steps in a journey of bringing decentralized finance to the forefront — with experienced market participants behind it and infrastructure, compliance, and financial utility front and center.
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