Bithumb Signs Strategic Partnership With Trump-Linked World Liberty Financial to Boost Global DeFi Ambitions

South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb has inked a strategic partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLF), a Trump-affiliated crypto venture, signaling its intent to expand its global footprint in decentralized finance (DeFi).

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed Monday at Bithumb’s Financial Tower in Seoul, with CEO Lee Jae-won, WLF co-founder Zak Folkman, and other executives from both sides in attendance. The companies say the deal will unlock new business opportunities in the DeFi sector and help build global investor confidence.

“This collaboration with WLF will be a significant milestone in enhancing Bithumb’s global competitiveness,” said Lee. “We will continue to strengthen our strategic network going forward.”

The partnership comes shortly after Lee’s August meeting with Eric Trump—WLF co-founder and son of former U.S. President Donald Trump—at the Hong Kong Bitcoin Asia 2025 event. The alignment with WLF could help Bithumb attract a wider investor base, particularly retail participants wary of crypto’s volatility and regulatory uncertainty.

By combining Bithumb’s technical expertise with WLF’s strategic influence, the initiative also aims to accelerate innovation in DeFi products and expand access to new markets. At the same time, Bithumb revealed it is in discussions with stablecoin issuer Circle on potential collaborations to further its global expansion.

The partnership comes at a delicate time for Bithumb, which has faced scrutiny from South Korean regulators over crypto lending and margin trading services. Authorities raised concerns about high-leverage trading, prompting Bithumb to scale back its lending product by halving its leverage ratio from x4 to x2.

Earlier this month, the exchange also suffered a 100-minute outage due to internal system issues, later pledging compensation to affected customers.

Despite these challenges, Bithumb is betting that strategic alliances with firms like WLF and Circle will strengthen its global reach and reinforce its position in an increasingly competitive crypto market.