UAE-Backed Entity Quietly Secures 49% Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Startup Days Before Presidential Return

In a move that has sent shockwaves through both Washington and Wall Street, a little-known Abu Dhabi investment vehicle backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan has acquired a near-majority stake in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture closely associated with former President Donald Trump. The deal, valued at $500 million and finalized just days before Trump’s return to the White House, was never publicly disclosed—raising immediate questions about transparency, national security, and the intersection of presidential power and private enterprise.

The Deal That Stayed in the Shadows

According to an explosive report by The Wall Street Journal, Aryam Investment 1—an Abu Dhabi-based entity controlled by Sheikh Tahnoon, the UAE’s national security adviser and brother to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed—signed an agreement in January 2025 to purchase a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial. The deal was reportedly inked by Eric Trump and saw $250 million paid upfront, with $187 million flowing directly to Trump family-controlled entities. Additional millions were routed to companies tied to Steve Witkoff, Trump’s longtime ally and current Middle East envoy.

What makes this transaction particularly controversial is its timing and secrecy. The agreement was signed mere days before Trump’s inauguration, yet it was never disclosed to the public. Only later did World Liberty reveal that the Trump family’s ownership stake had dramatically decreased—without mentioning the source of the new capital.

Sheikh Tahnoon’s Expanding Global Footprint

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan is no ordinary investor. As the UAE’s national security adviser and one of the most powerful figures in Abu Dhabi, he has been instrumental in transforming the emirate into a global hub for artificial intelligence and advanced technology. Under the Biden administration, his efforts to secure cutting-edge U.S.-made AI chips were repeatedly stymied due to fears that such technology could be diverted to China—particularly through Tahnoon’s investments in companies like G42, a leading AI firm in the region.

However, Trump’s return to power has dramatically altered the landscape. Within months of the election, Tahnoon met with Trump and senior U.S. officials multiple times. The result? A landmark agreement granting the UAE access to hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips annually—a concession that had been denied under Biden.

The World Liberty deal appears to be part of a broader strategy. The Wall Street Journal reported that executives from G42 helped manage Aryam Investment 1 and took board seats at World Liberty as part of the agreement, effectively making Aryam the startup’s largest outside shareholder. Just weeks before the U.S.-UAE chip framework was announced, another Tahnoon-led firm, MGX, used World Liberty’s stablecoin to complete a $2 billion investment into Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

White House Denies Wrongdoing

Both World Liberty and the White House have pushed back against allegations of impropriety. Spokespeople told The Wall Street Journal that President Trump was not personally involved in the deal and that it did not grant any foreign entity influence over U.S. policy. They emphasized that the transaction was a standard business arrangement, conducted at arm’s length.

Yet, the lack of disclosure and the sheer scale of the investment have fueled skepticism. Critics argue that the deal’s timing—coming just before Trump’s return to office—raises serious ethical and legal questions, particularly given the UAE’s strategic ambitions in AI and crypto.

National Security Concerns Intensify

The controversy is compounded by ongoing investigations into World Liberty Financial’s token sales. Last year, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed called on U.S. authorities to investigate alleged links between WLFI’s token sales and sanctioned foreign actors. In a November letter to the Justice Department and Treasury, they cited claims that WLFI governance tokens were purchased by blockchain addresses tied to North Korea’s notorious Lazarus Group, as well as entities linked to Russia and Iran.

The situation is further complicated by World Liberty’s ownership structure, which gives Trump family-linked entities control over the majority of token revenue. Lawmakers argue this creates a direct conflict of interest, as most proceeds from token sales flow to the president’s family—potentially incentivizing policies that benefit the venture at the expense of national security.

A New Era of Crypto-Political Entanglement?

The World Liberty deal is emblematic of a broader trend: the increasingly blurred lines between cryptocurrency ventures, political power, and foreign investment. With Trump’s administration stacked with crypto-friendly appointees—including Kevin Warsh, recently tapped as Federal Reserve chair—the regulatory environment for digital assets is poised for significant shifts.

For the UAE, the deal represents a strategic win, granting it a foothold in one of the most politically connected crypto startups in the world. For Trump, it offers a lucrative infusion of capital, even as it invites scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. And for the American public, it raises uncomfortable questions about the integrity of the nation’s leadership in an era where technology, finance, and geopolitics are more intertwined than ever.

Tags: UAE, Trump, World Liberty Financial, cryptocurrency, Sheikh Tahnoon, Abu Dhabi, G42, AI chips, national security, Eric Trump, Steve Witkoff, Binance, Lazarus Group, sanctions, conflict of interest, crypto regulation, Kevin Warsh, Federal Reserve, Middle East envoy, blockchain, governance tokens, undisclosed deal, political entanglement, tech diplomacy, Wall Street Journal

Viral Sentences:

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