WLFI Token Rises on Institutional Stablecoin Adoption
World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token jumped about 10% in Asian trading hours, which was a notable move considering bitcoin and ether both dipped around 0.5% during the same period. The rally followed news that Apex, a $3.5 trillion asset servicer, plans to test World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin as a settlement mechanism for tokenized funds.
This isn’t just another retail stablecoin story—it’s about institutional adoption. Apex handling that much in assets means they’re serious about exploring blockchain settlement options. The timing coincided with World Liberty’s forum at Mar-a-Lago, where speakers kept emphasizing how critical stablecoins are becoming for financial infrastructure.
Political Pressure for Clear Crypto Rules
Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio made some interesting points at the event. He argued that the entire financial system is going to look completely different within five years compared to the last fifty. “This will happen somewhere,” he said. “We’re going to see a massive amount of innovation in financial services. The question is, will it happen in America or somewhere else?”
Moreno pushed hard for Congress to pass digital asset market structure legislation within the next 90 days. He thinks clear rules are essential if the U.S. wants to lead rather than follow in financial innovation. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong echoed this sentiment, though he pointed fingers at banking trade groups rather than individual banks for the legislative delays.
USD1 as an Institutional Settlement Tool
World Liberty co-founder Zak Folkman described USD1 differently than typical stablecoins. He called it “an institutional-grade dollar” designed specifically for real-world settlement and cross-border transactions. The stablecoin will feature real-time proof of reserves powered by Chainlink, which means users can verify backing directly on-chain.
Folkman’s vision extends beyond just another dollar-pegged token. He positioned USD1 as a bridge for global payments, starting with the U.S.-Mexico corridor before expanding to support up to 40 different currencies. “This is USD1 as a settlement bridge,” he explained.
Looking Toward AI-Driven Commerce
Perhaps the most forward-looking part of Folkman’s presentation was about artificial intelligence. He argued we’re entering a world where AI agents will need to transact autonomously. “AI agents can’t open bank accounts, they can’t sign checks, but they can hold stablecoins,” he noted.
This connection between stablecoins and AI commerce makes sense when you think about it. Autonomous systems need programmable money that doesn’t require traditional banking relationships. Folkman framed USD1 as part of building “a complete financial system” for this emerging reality.
Earlier in February at Consensus Hong Kong, Folkman had teased an upcoming World Liberty Forex platform. Now with the Apex partnership and this institutional focus, the project seems to be gaining serious traction beyond just political affiliations. The market reaction suggests investors see real potential in this institutional approach to stablecoins, especially as traditional finance continues exploring tokenization.
