Crypto Journalist
Amin Ayan
Crypto Journalist
Share
US President Donald Trump said he was unaware of a reported multimillion-dollar investment by an Abu Dhabi royal into the crypto platform World Liberty Financial, distancing himself from a deal that has drawn fresh scrutiny over foreign influence and presidential family business ties.
Key Takeaways:
- Trump said he was unaware of a reported $500M UAE royal investment in World Liberty Financial.
- WSJ reported an Abu Dhabi royal agreed to buy a 49% stake in the crypto platform.
- The deal has drawn scrutiny over foreign influence and Trump family ties.
“I don’t know about it,” Trump told reporters on Monday when asked about the transaction.
“My sons are handling that — my family is handling it,” he added. “I guess they get investments from different people.”
UAE Royal Agreed to Buy 49% Stake in World Liberty Financial
The comments followed a report by The Wall Street Journal that Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a senior member of the United Arab Emirates royal family, agreed to acquire a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for $500 million just days before Trump’s inauguration.
The Journal cited company documents and people familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the investment was made through Aryam Investment 1, an entity backed by Sheikh Tahnoon, with an initial $250 million installment.
Of that amount, $187 million was directed to Trump-family entities, while another $31 million went to an entity linked to World Liberty Financial co-founders Zak Folkman and Chase Herro.
If completed as described, the deal would make Aryam the largest shareholder in World Liberty Financial, a US-based crypto venture founded by nine individuals, including Trump and his sons Donald Trump Jr., Eric and Barron.
The structure has raised questions among lawmakers and commentators about governance and foreign capital exposure in a company closely associated with the sitting president.
Sheikh Tahnoon maintains close diplomatic ties with Washington and chairs Group 42, an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence conglomerate.
In December, Group 42 secured approval from the US Department of Commerce to purchase advanced chips from Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, underscoring its standing with US regulators.
The reported investment has added to broader political debate over Trump’s crypto links.
In January, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren urged federal banking regulators to pause consideration of World Liberty Financial’s application for a bank charter until Trump divests his stake.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency later rejected that request, saying the application would undergo the same “rigorous review” as any other and that political ties would not affect the process.
Bitcoin Loses 25,000 Millionaire Addresses Despite Pro-Crypto Turn Under Trump
As reported, Bitcoin has shed roughly 25,000 millionaire addresses in the year since Donald Trump returned to the White House, even as US policy shifted toward a more crypto-friendly stance.
Blockchain data shows the number of addresses holding at least $1 million in BTC fell about 16% year over year, suggesting regulatory optimism has not translated into sustained on-chain wealth growth.
The pullback was less severe among the largest holders. Addresses with more than $10 million in Bitcoin declined by about 12.5%, indicating that top-tier investors were better able to withstand price volatility, while wallets near the millionaire threshold were more exposed to market swings.
Much of the increase in Bitcoin millionaire addresses occurred before Trump took office, driven by a late-2024 rally fueled by election-related optimism and expectations of deregulation.
