Exclusive-The Trump connection: Why some bought World Liberty Financial tokens

FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures at the Bitcoin 2024 event in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., July 27, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo

NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) -On Sunday, just before Donald Trump's inauguration, crypto investor Mike Dudas bought more than $145,000 worth of tokens from World Liberty Financial, a fledgling crypto company partly owned by the U.S. president.

Unlike typical crypto investments, the World Liberty Financial tokens give their holders a vote on decisions about product features and marketing. Crypto tokens such as bitcoin and ether can be used for payments or developing applications.