An investment vehicle backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates quietly acquired a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial (WLFI) — a cryptocurrency company associated with the Trump family — in a $500 million deal signed just before Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
An Abu Dhabi-based investment fund linked to the UAE’s national security advisor, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has agreed to acquire a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial (WLFI). World Liberty Financial is a cryptocurrency company founded by Donald Trump’s sons and other allied businesspeople for $500 million. The deal was signed four days before Trump’s presidential inauguration and remained secret until this report.
In January 2025, Aryam Investment 1, an Abu Dhabi-based entity connected to the UAE’s national security adviser, agreed to purchase a 49% equity stake in World Liberty Financial, a crypto-focused venture cofounded by Donald Trump’s sons and associates, for $500 million. The transaction was signed four days prior to President Trump’s inauguration and remained undisclosed until recent reporting.
Under the terms of the agreement, Aryam paid half of the purchase price upfront, with approximately $187 million flowing to entities controlled by the Trump family, and additional amounts directed to companies linked to other cofounders. The investment made Aryam the largest external shareholder in WLFI and included seats on the board of directors for executives connected to the Abu Dhabi investment firm.
Major foreign capital infusion into politically sensitive crypto venture
The timing of the deal has drawn scrutiny because it preceded a policy shift by the U.S. government that granted the UAE access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips manufactured in the United States, a change from restrictions in place under the prior administration. Meetings between Sheikh Tahnoon and senior U.S. officials were later followed by this policy outcome.
The timing of the deal has drawn scrutiny because it preceded a policy shift by the U.S. government that granted the UAE access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips manufactured in the United States, a change from restrictions in place under the prior administration. Meetings between Sheikh Tahnoon and senior U.S. officials were later followed by this policy outcome.
World Liberty and White House spokespeople have denied wrongdoing or improper influence, stating that neither Trump nor his office was directly involved in the deal and that it did not influence policy decisions. Nevertheless, the revelation has ignited debate over the intersection of politics, cross-border investment, and crypto finance.
Observers note that the transaction — involving significant foreign capital entering a politically linked crypto venture — may set complex precedents for future cross-border investments in digital finance and cutting-edge tech sectors.
