Author: Claude, Deep Chao TechFlow
Deep Chao Introduction: The New York Times disclosed on August 10 that the $100 million governance token purchase order received by the Trump family crypto project World Liberty Financial (WLFI) came from a buyer linked to British money laundering suspect Guren "Bobby" Zhou. The transaction was completed in June 2025 through the UAE-registered fund Aqua 1. Under WLFI's revenue-sharing structure, up to $75 million flowed into the entity DT Marks DEFI LLC, controlled by Trump and his three sons. As of late July 2026, the British authorities' money laundering investigation into Zhou remains ongoing, and Zhou has not been formally charged.
A New York Times investigation published on the 10th has placed the Trump family crypto project World Liberty Financial (WLFI) in the spotlight. The report identifies that the funds for WLFI's largest-ever publicly disclosed token purchase, $100 million, originated from businessman Guren "Bobby" Zhou, who is under investigation for money laundering by British authorities. The transaction, completed in June 2025 through the UAE-registered fund Aqua 1, made Zhou the single largest publicly known investor in WLFI with his purchase of $100 million worth of WLFI governance tokens.
Guren Zhou, commonly known as Bobby Zhou, was arrested in the UK in March 2021 on suspicion of money laundering. British officials confirmed to The New York Times that as of late July 2026, the investigation remains active. Zhou himself has not been formally charged, and he did not respond to requests for comment on the report.
Two Wallets Purchased in Batches, On-Chain Path Points to Same Controller
This is not Zhou's first involvement with WLFI. Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence tracked on-chain records showing the $100 million purchase was completed in two parts: in January 2025, a wallet controlled by Web3Port purchased $20 million worth of WLFI; in June 2025, another wallet believed to be controlled by Aqua 1 purchased $80 million worth, totaling $100 million.
The link between Web3Port and Aqua 1 was established by The New York Times after reviewing corporate filings. A Web3Port entity registered in the British Virgin Islands later changed its name to Aqua 1 GP Limited. Approximately two weeks after this name change, Aqua 1 announced the $100 million WLFI purchase order. Aqua 1 had previously publicly denied any connection to Web3Port but did not specify which part of the reporting was inaccurate. Web3Port had earlier announced a $10 million investment in WLFI shortly after Trump's inauguration in January 2025.
$75 Million Diverted to Trump Family Entity
Under WLFI's revenue-sharing arrangement, up to $75 million from the $100 million purchase—or 75% of the token sale proceeds—flowed to DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity controlled by Trump and his three sons. The transaction also benefited the family of WLFI co-founder Zach Witkoff, whose father, Steve Witkoff, currently serves as an envoy for the Trump administration.
Trump's latest financial disclosure shows he received over $65.6 million from the sale of WLF Holdco equity and $236.25 million from WLFI token sale distributions. Eric Trump had met with Guren Zhou in Dubai to discuss this investment, which Zhou later described as "participating in the Trump family's crypto project."
Guren Zhou's String of Failures: Flooring Retailer Bankruptcy, Crypto Tokens Turned Worthless
The source of Zhou's funds remains unclear, and The New York Times stated it could not confirm the ultimate origin of the $100 million. The report detailed Zhou's past business ventures in the UK, all of which ended in failure.
Zhou once operated a UK flooring retailer that entered administration without repaying approximately $5 million owed to his father's company. He subsequently moved into the crypto space, launching the Caduceus project, which raised about $7.6 million but whose tokens became nearly worthless by 2024. Caduceus had claimed support from China Merchants Securities UK and the Bin Zayed Group, founded by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. Both institutions told The New York Times that these claims were "unauthorized and substantively false."
In 2024, Zhou relocated from London to Abu Dhabi and became associated with Web3Port and later Aqua 1, propelling these entities into the ranks of WLFI's major token buyers. Chinese courts have also issued civil judgments against Zhou totaling approximately 19.4 million yuan (about $2.4 million) for unpaid loans.
Compliance Expert Flags Red Flags, Retired NATO General Refuses Dialogue
Patrick Prinz, COO of crypto crime investigation firm Recoveris, told The New York Times that Zhou's profile should have triggered anti-money laundering (AML) documentation requirements before WLFI accepted the funds. He listed red flags including Zhou's multiple business failures, his ability to suddenly access large sums of money, the transaction size, and the ongoing investigation, stating that the combination of these four factors reached the threshold for AML reporting.
International AML rules classify Trump and his family as "Politically Exposed Persons" (PEPs). Prinz noted that this status should trigger the highest level of scrutiny within the financial system.
Zhou used the WLFI investment as a credential, displaying photos of Trump and his sons in meetings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and touting Aqua 1 as the "largest investor with provable credibility" in WLFI. Retired Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, Wesley Clark, told The New York Times that his team conducted a background check on Zhou after being approached by his representatives for an event and subsequently withdrew from dialogue. Clark's team informed Zhou's representatives: "We're not talking to you."
Congressional Scrutiny Escalates, $500 Million Abu Dhabi Investment Already Under Senatorial Scrutiny
Aqua 1 is not the only WLFI overseas funding source drawing scrutiny. In June 2026, five Democratic senators sent a letter to Republican committee leaders requesting a hearing on the $500 million investment in WLFI by Abu Dhabi investment company Aryam Investment 1. Aryam is backed by UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In the letter, the senators cited a Wall Street Journal report questioning whether the investment involved potential conflicts between foreign financial interests and the Trump administration. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly reiterated that Trump has no conflicts of interest. WLFI spokesman David Wachsman stated that the company complies with all applicable laws and maintains a compliance program that "meets or exceeds industry standards." He declined to say whether WLFI knew the source of Zhou's funds.
Following the NYT report, the WLFI token was quoted at $0.05295, largely flat on the day, but its 24-hour trading volume jumped 57%. Regarding court cases, criminal proceedings against two of Zhou's employees are scheduled for trial in 2028, with one defendant having pleaded guilty.
