The intersection of Presidential influence and private crypto interests is facing fresh scrutiny.
On 2 Feb, President Donald Trump addressed reports of significant foreign investment in World Liberty Financial, a digital asset project co-founded by his family. Speaking from the White House, the President suggested he had no direct involvement in the day-to-day operations or the sourcing of capital for the venture.
"I don’t know about it," Trump told reporters during a briefing primarily focused on critical minerals. "My family is handling it… I guess they get investments from different people." The comments follow revelations that a firm linked to the United Arab Emirates national security establishment has taken a substantial stake in the project.
Sheikh Tahnoon acquires major stake
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Aryam Investment acquired a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial. The firm is associated with Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE national security adviser and a prominent member of the royal family. The transaction, valued at $500mn, reportedly resulted in $187mn flowing to entities connected to the Trump family.
The timing of the investment has raised questions among transparency advocates. The deal was finalized shortly before the second inauguration and coincided with an administration decision to permit the UAE to import 500,000 advanced Nvidia AI chips. Sheikh Tahnoon also chairs G42, the Abu Dhabi-based AI powerhouse that is the primary recipient of those chips. While the administration maintains these decisions are separate, the financial ties between the UAE and the Trump family crypto project provide a complex backdrop for US foreign policy in the Gulf.
Regulatory scrutiny and national security
The project is already under the microscope of US lawmakers. In November 2025, senators led by Democrat Elizabeth Warren requested that federal regulators investigate potential national security risks. The inquiry focused on the distribution of governance tokens and whether they could be acquired by blockchain addresses linked to foreign entities in jurisdictions such as Russia or Iran to circumvent oversight.
World Liberty Financial is also the issuer of USD1, a US dollar-pegged stablecoin. In October 2025, the Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX used the stablecoin to settle a $2bn investment in the exchange Binance.
The President’s claim of distance from the venture comes as the White House hosts talks aimed at resolving a stalemate over digital asset regulation. Proponents argue that the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act are necessary to ensure the US remains a leader in the sector. However, the overlap between family-run business interests and federal legislative priorities continues to generate debate regarding transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
