Nicki Minaj Joins World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago for WLFI: A New Approach for Trump?
Nicki Minaj will take the stage at the Trump-linked World Liberty Forum on February 18 at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. World Liberty Financial confirmed her participation in its flagship crypto summit. The invitation-only event will gather roughly 300 to 400 executives, investors, policymakers, and technologists as the Trump family advances its digital asset strategy. Star Power Meets Crypto Policy World Liberty Financial, the DeFi project backed by the Trump family, hosts the forum at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Organizers expect between 300 and 400 high-level participants. The guest list includes senior figures from global finance and digital assets. Confirmed attendees include Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson will also attend. FIFA president Gianni Infantino is also on the speaker roster. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who co-founded World Liberty Financial, will speak during the summit. Their involvement reflects the family’s direct role in the venture. Business Wire materials describe the gathering as a platform for policy and industry leaders to exchange views. Meanwhile, WLFI has not released a detailed agenda for Minaj’s segment. Her appearance adds a cultural dimension to a forum already drawing attention for its political and financial backdrop. The event now blends celebrity presence with regulatory discussion and market expansion. Minaj’s History With Crypto and Trump Nicki Minaj has not launched a or #nft brand. Still, she has interacted with the space before. In 2021, during the NFT boom, she promoted the Happy Hippos NFT collection on social media. Unlike several celebrities who created tokens or digital projects, Minaj limited her involvement to promotion. She did not build or manage a blockchain venture. Her connection to crypto has remained occasional and brand-based. Her upcoming forum appearance follows her participation in #TRUMP ’s January event tied to a government savings initiative. During that event, she publicly endorsed Donald Trump and rejected criticism from the media and political opponents. That moment marked one of the clearest endorsements Trump has received from a major global pop star. At the same time, many Hollywood figures have voiced opposition to the Trump administration and its policies. Trump has increasingly engaged high-profile cultural figures as his administration advances policies aimed at supporting crypto markets and stablecoin infrastructure. Will Minaj’s presence deepen the intersection between celebrity influence and crypto policy? Regulatory Scrutiny and Product Expansion As WLFI prepares for the forum, regulatory questions continue to surface. Reuters reported that senators referenced reporting linking a stake to G42 and to Emirati national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Reuters also noted prior U.S. scrutiny of G42 over alleged ties to China’s military. These developments add political sensitivity to the broader discussion surrounding Trump-linked crypto ventures. The scrutiny connects to calls for review related to foreign investment and national security. Lawmakers have sought clarification amid the growing profile of the project. At the same time, World Liberty Financial has promoted new offerings. Reuters reported on February 12 that the venture plans to launch a foreign exchange and remittance platform called “World Swap.” The platform aims to offer lower-fee options for cross-border transfers. According to the same report, WLFI’s lending unit processed more than $320 million in loans and over $200 million in borrowings within four weeks. Ethics experts have raised conflict-of-interest concerns, while the White House has denied those claims. With the February 18 summit approaching, the World Liberty Forum now sits at the center of celebrity engagement, financial ambition, and regulatory attention. Observers will monitor announcements related to payments and remittances, along with responses to ongoing scrutiny surrounding the venture. Conclusion Nicki Minaj will appear at the World Liberty Financial summit on February 18 at Mar-a-Lago. The invitation-only forum expects 300 to 400 leaders, including top finance and crypto executives. WLFI has introduced new plans, such as World Swap, amid increased scrutiny from lawmakers. Follow the forum’s updates as they emerge. #WorldLibertyFinanciaI #crypto #CryptoNews
Ripple CEO Predicts $1 Trillion Valuation for XRP-Driven Growth: Is He Right?
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the company could one day reach a $1 trillion valuation. He shared the view during #xrp Community Day on the social platform, saying a crypto firm will eventually cross that mark. He believes Ripple could become that company if it executes well with the broader XRP ecosystem. Garlinghouse noted that only a handful of global giants, such as Nvidia, Apple, and Alphabet, have reached trillion-dollar status. He said more than one crypto company could achieve the milestone. Can Ripple close the gap from a $40 billion valuation to $1 trillion? In November, Ripple raised $500 million from investors, including Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities affiliates. That funding valued the firm at nearly $40 billion. To reach $1 trillion, Ripple would need to grow about 25 times from that level. Garlinghouse urged listeners to zoom out from recent volatility. Over the past month, XRP fell 33% while Bitcoin declined 26%. He encouraged the community to focus on long-term market size and infrastructure shifts. Billion-Dollar Acquisitions Expand Reach Last year, Ripple invested about $4 billion across the crypto ecosystem. The spending covered investments, mergers, and acquisitions. The largest deals included Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and GTreasury for $1 billion. Hidden Road operated as a global credit network before the acquisition. It generated $3 trillion in annual revenue and served more than 300 institutional customers. After the purchase, #Ripple #rebranded it as Ripple Prime. GTreasury provided treasury management systems with risk management and foreign exchange tools. It also offered compliance and audit frameworks. Ripple rebranded the platform as Ripple Treasury following the deal. In addition, Ripple spent $200 million on stablecoin firm Rail. It also acquired wallet-as-a-service provider Palisade for an undisclosed amount. Since then, the company aligned these businesses around the XRP ecosystem. Garlinghouse said Ripple will focus on integration this year rather than large acquisitions. He told listeners not to expect major deals in the near term. Still, he added that the company may become more inquisitive again in the second half of the year. XRP as the Strategic Core XRP ranks as the third-largest cryptocurrency with a market capitalization of about $83 billion. The token trades near $1.35 at press time. Garlinghouse described XRP as Ripple’s “North Star” and core purpose. He said Ripple payments, Ripple Prime, Ripple Treasury, custody services, and RLUSD all aim to drive utility and liquidity around XRP and the XRP Ledger. He tied product strategy directly to XRP’s role within the ecosystem. President Monica Long echoed that direction. She said the company has refocused on XRP and the Ledger as its reason for being. She described the asset as guiding product strategy and decision-making. From there, she outlined three institutional initiatives. First, Ripple plans to bring more licensed payment flows onto the XRPL decentralized exchange. Second, it is developing a “payments credit” concept that matches provider financing needs with XRP holders seeking yield through a proposed amendment to the lending protocol. Third, Ripple seeks to grow custody demand as banks move beyond safekeeping. The company aims to support tokenization of deposits, funds, and traditional securities. Garlinghouse said massive global markets create room for growth. He added that the opportunity to rewire and accelerate financial infrastructure remains substantial as Ripple deepens its integration strategy. The Bigger Picture Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the company could pursue a $1 trillion valuation through disciplined execution within the XRP ecosystem. Ripple invested billions in acquisitions and rebranded core units to align with XRP Ledger growth. The firm now prioritizes integration as it expands institutional payments, custody, and treasury services.