A US-linked crypto startup received a major foreign cash injection this week, stirring questions in Washington about money, access, and transparency.
Reports say a UAE-backed investor paid roughly $500 million for nearly half of the company, a deal that was not widely known when it closed.
UAE Money Enters A Trump-Linked Crypto Firm
According to multiple reports, Aryam Investment 1 agreed to buy a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for $500 million. Part of that sum — about $187 million — was paid up front to entities connected to US President Donald Trump and other founders.
Executives tied to a major Abu Dhabi tech group were named to the company’s board after the purchase, giving the new backer direct influence over governance.
The transfer was signed in January 2025, just days before a major political transition in the US, and it drew immediate attention because of who the company is linked to.
Trump & Crypto: High-Level UAE Ties
Reports note the investment can be traced to figures close to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a powerful Abu Dhabi official whose interests include technology and national security.
That connection has sharpened scrutiny. Lawmakers and watchdogs say such stakes raise hard questions about foreign influence when an entity tied to a sitting US President is involved.
Some of the transactions and token purchases connected to the project were disclosed later than critics would prefer, which has fed calls for clearer filings and faster public notice.
Political Questions And Oversight
The deal also ties into earlier moves by UAE-linked funds to buy the project’s tokens and promote a stablecoin tied to the company’s ecosystem.
Reports say those earlier investments helped build momentum for the platform, and that a separate, large investment linked to the stablecoin involved Binance and other partners.
Critics argue a big foreign stake in a crypto firm with presidential ties creates both optics and policy concerns, especially as Congress debates tighter rules for stablecoins and foreign investments.
Some members of Congress have asked regulators to examine whether rules on disclosure or foreign influence were sidestepped.
Mixed Reactions
Investors responded with mixed signals. Some welcomed increased funding and new board expertise. Others worried that questions about ownership and governance could undercut confidence in the token and related products.
Important details about the buyer’s full ownership structure remain unclear in public filings. Reports say that transparency gaps are central to why oversight officials are asking for more documents and briefings.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView