Have you been hearing about the massive profits the Trump family is making on the WLFI token? Issued by World Liberty Financial and associated with Donald Trump, WLFI is more than just another exchange listing – it is the convergence of governance power with the financial markets in the form of a high-stakes DeFi token. Its impressive start is evidence that there is demand for governance-based assets as well as community interest.
Governance tokens are the ‘big hitters’ of DeFi, allowing holders to vote on protocol developments, treasury distributions, fee structures, and more, thereby enabling decentralized decision-making, which is arguably the next great development in governance.
Where and how can you buy a governance token?
Buying a governance token is much like purchasing any other cryptocurrency—you select an exchange or decentralized platform, connect your wallet, and trade a base currency like ETH or USDT for the token. Some tokens may also have vesting periods or require staking before you can participate in governance, making them more than just speculative assets.
Within this same context, here is a list of the 7 leading governance tokens you need to know about in 2025:
Uniswap (UNI) — the people’s exchange
UNI holders vote on liquidity pool incentives, security measures, and treasury allocations. Uniswap boasts a treasury north of $5.4 billion, and it governs the largest DEX by treasury and trading volume. You can buy UNI on major exchanges like Coinbase or directly on Uniswap (DEX platform) by swapping ETH or USDT.
Aave (AAVE) — lending power to the people
AAVE holders can vote on protocol changes, like adding new collateral types, adjusting interest rates, or modifying risk parameters. AAVE is available on most exchanges and decentralized platforms, and you can purchase it with ETH or stablecoins.
Maker (MKR) — the stablecoin governor
MKR is the governance token of the MakerDAO ecosystem, which operates the Maker Protocol on the Ethereum blockchain. With the MKR token, the community helps decide on stability, collateral types, and even big moves like RWA adoption. It’s governance with real-world stakes. MKR is also easy to buy as it can be bought on exchanges or DEXs using ETH or USDT.
WLIF — the new kid with a big voice
Fresh off its high-profile vote, WLIF is proving that even emerging tokens can rally communities to shape bold moves. WLFI holders can participate in governance decisions, influencing the direction of the World Liberty Financial ecosystem. WLFI can also be swapped for ETH or USDT on supported decentralized platforms.
Compound (COMP) — governance on autopilot
Compound (COMP) is the governance token of the Compound Protocol, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform built on the Ethereum blockchain. COMP allows token holders to fine-tune interest rates and participate in protocol upgrades. It’s the quiet powerhouse of decentralized lending. You can acquire COMP on exchanges or DEXs by trading ETH or stablecoins.
Curve (CRV) — liquidity’s voting machine
CRV is the governance token for Curve Finance. It is unique as it contains a time-based staking system to exchange CRV into veCRV, where veCRV is an internal token intended for governance purposes and has the right to claim the cash flows generated by the protocol. CRV is available on exchanges or DEXs, and you can convert it into veCRV to participate in governance.
Arbitrum (ARB) — L2 with community control
The $ARB token is an ERC-20 governance token that allows its holders to participate in the Arbitrum DAO’s on-chain governance protocol. ARB can be purchased on exchanges or DEXs using ETH or stablecoins.
Governance tokens are more than just another crypto narrative. From veterans like UNI and AAVE to newcomers like WLFI, these tokens show how communities can build billion-dollar ecosystems by directly guiding their actions. These are real votes with real impact on treasuries, lending rates, and liquidity flows; governance tokens are where ideology meets utility.
As we continue into 2025, the conversations are not solely about price action – they are about who owns what keys when it comes to DeFi. Whether stability (MKR), liquidity (CRV), scaling (ARB), or ambitious newcomers (WLFI), governance tokens will continue to illustrate the trends of how decentralized systems evolve, and how power is transferred from centralized persons and entities into the rightful hands of token holders.
