UAE‑Backed Investor Acquires 49% of Trump‑Linked Crypto Startup for $500 million
By [Your Name], Cointelegraph
February 1, 2026
Overview
A discreet investment vehicle based in Abu Dhabi, Aryam Investment 1, has secured a near‑majority stake in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency platform closely associated with the family of former President Donald Trump. The transaction, valued at $500 million, was signed in January 2025, just weeks before Trump’s return to the White House. According to the Wall Street Journal, the deal was structured with a $250 million upfront payment, of which $187 million was transferred to entities controlled by the Trump family, while the remaining funds were routed to companies linked to WLFI co‑founders and the U.S. Middle‑East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Deal Structure and Parties
- Investor: Aryam Investment 1, an entity backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother of the UAE president and the nation’s national security adviser.
- Target: World Liberty Financial, a fintech and crypto‑token issuer that markets governance tokens tied to the Trump family’s brand.
- Stake Acquired: 49 % of WLFI’s equity for a total consideration of $500 million.
- Signatory: The agreement was reportedly signed on behalf of WLFI by Eric Trump.
- Funding Flow: Half of the purchase price was paid up front; the rest was distributed in subsequent installments to various affiliates of WLFI’s founding team.
The transaction was not disclosed publicly at the time, despite later statements from WLFI indicating a sharp decline in the Trump family’s ownership percentage.
Strategic Context
Sheikh Tahnoon’s involvement aligns with a broader UAE push to embed itself in emerging technology sectors, especially artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. Following Trump’s 2024 election, Tahnoon intensified contacts with senior U.S. officials, culminating in a U.S.–UAE agreement that grants the Emirates access to hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips annually. Executives from the Abu Dhabi‑based AI firm G42 are said to have helped manage Aryam Investment 1 and have taken board seats at WLFI as part of the deal, making the UAE entity WLFI’s largest external shareholder.
Weeks before the chip‑framework was announced, another Tahnoon‑led venture, MGX, allegedly used WLFI’s stablecoin to fund a $2 billion investment in Binance, underscoring the intertwining of the UAE’s tech ambitions with global crypto liquidity.
Regulatory Scrutiny
The acquisition arrives amid heightened congressional attention on WLFI’s operations. In late 2025, Democratic senators—including Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed—requested that the Justice Department and Treasury examine WLFI’s token sales for possible connections to sanctioned actors. Their concerns referenced reports that WLFI governance tokens were purchased by blockchain addresses linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, as well as entities tied to Russia and Iran.
Critics argue that WLFI’s ownership architecture, which routes the majority of token‑sale proceeds to Trump‑family entities, creates a direct conflict of interest for a sitting president. Both WLFI and the White House have denied any misconduct, insisting that the transaction does not confer policy influence on Trump.
Market Implications
- Liquidity and Valuation: The $500 million infusion could bolster WLFI’s balance sheet, providing capital for platform expansion and token‑market making. However, the opacity of the deal may deter risk‑averse investors.
- Geopolitical Risk: The involvement of a high‑profile UAE figure, combined with ongoing U.S. investigations into sanction‑evasion allegations, adds a layer of geopolitical risk that could affect WLFI’s access to U.S. financial infrastructure.
- Regulatory Outlook: The Senate’s calls for a probe signal potential heightened oversight of crypto projects with political ties. Future enforcement actions could reshape token‑sale regulations and reporting requirements.
Key Takeaways
- Strategic Investment: Aryam Investment 1, backed by Sheikh Tahnoon, now holds 49 % of WLFI, positioning the UAE as a major stakeholder in a Trump‑linked crypto venture.
- Funding Mechanics: $187 million of the purchase price went directly to Trump family‑controlled entities, with additional funds distributed to affiliates of WLFI’s co‑founders.
- Board Influence: Executives from G42 have joined WLFI’s board, reflecting deeper integration of UAE AI and crypto interests.
- Regulatory Red Flag: Congressional scrutiny over alleged sanction‑related token purchases heightens the risk profile for WLFI and its investors.
- Potential Market Impact: While the capital boost could enable product development, the deal’s secrecy and political connections may invite further regulatory scrutiny and affect market confidence.
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Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/uae-backed-firm-buys-49-percent-trump-linked-world-liberty-wsj?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
