U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has intensified their efforts to investigate a foreign investment in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency company associated with the Trump family, by initiating congressional oversight. This comes after it was revealed that a UAE-funded firm had invested $500 million in WLFI in January 2025, just before the inauguration of President Donald Trump in 2025.
According to the Wall Street Journal, an Abu Dhabi-based investment vehicle, which is funded by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, purchased a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial in January 2025. The acquisition was executed by Eric Trump, Trump’s son, on behalf of the firm and was not made public, which has led to concerns about the nature of the purchase.
Foreign Investment and Congressional Concern
The UAE investment may be entering a complex zone of overlap between U.S. policy goals that benefit the UAE, considering the final-stage investments that paved the way for innovative AI chips in the UAE just after the investment stake was taken. It implies possible conflicts of interest, with a possibility that U.S. representatives may not have fully assessed or disclosed this relationship before or following the acquisition.
The Trump family’s control over World Liberty Financial has eased since the investment, but they still have significant influence, with their control representing a substantial minority. The firm is famous for its USD1 stablecoin and other digital asset projects, some of which have processed massive amounts of money, such as a $2 billion crypto trade with Binance, which was settled in USD1.
Reactions and Reflections
From the news coverage, it is evident that there are denials from the White House and World Liberty Financial that there was no improper influence or conflict of interest regarding the UAE investment. Since the investment, there has been a marked change in the ownership structure of World Liberty Financial. The Trump family, which was the majority owner, now has a substantial minority stake and is deeply involved in the day-to-day running of the company. The company has developed around its stablecoin, USD1, and its digital asset strategy. Some of these initiatives have come to light through major transactions, such as a $2 billion transfer to the crypto exchange Binance by companies that use USD1 for their transactions.
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