Short Description: A UAE-backed entity acquired a major stake in a Trump-linked crypto firm days before his presidency, raising ethics and national security questions.
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A secretive $500 million investment, linking a senior UAE royal to a cryptocurrency startup controlled by Donald Trump’s family, is raising significant ethical and national security concerns, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation. The deal, signed by Eric Trump just days before the former president’s 2025 return to the White House, saw Abu Dhabi’s Aryam Investment 1 acquire a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a firm at the center of prior controversy. This substantial UAE investment resulted in $187 million flowing directly to Trump family-controlled entities, spotlighting potential conflicts of interest.
The buyer, Aryam, is backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser and a key figure in the nation’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence. The timing proved pivotal. Following the investment and Tahnoon’s subsequent meetings with Trump and U.S. officials, the administration swiftly committed to granting the UAE access to hundreds of thousands of advanced U.S.-made AI chips—access previously limited under President Biden over fears of technology transfer to China. This sequence of events, coupled with reports that executives from Tahnoon’s AI firm, G42, took board seats at WLFI, suggests the crypto startup became a strategic conduit for UAE influence in Washington.
This secret stake acquisition intensifies existing scrutiny of World Liberty Financial. Last year, Democratic senators called for federal probes, citing allegations that WLFI’s tokens were purchased by blockchain wallets tied to sanctioned groups like North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Critics argue that the Trump family’s majority control over token revenue creates a glaring conflict of interest, merging personal financial gain with sensitive foreign policy. While the White House and WLFI deny any wrongdoing or policy influence, the convergence of a Trump-linked crypto firm, massive foreign investment, and a swift reversal on critical tech policy presents a stark case for ongoing investigation and transparency.
Short Summary: A $500M UAE investment in Trump-family-controlled World Liberty Financial, made days before his presidency, is under intense scrutiny. The deal funneled millions to Trump entities and preceded a major U.S. policy shift granting the UAE advanced AI chips, highlighting serious questions about foreign influence, conflicts of interest, and national security in the crypto-political sphere.
